Morning Asian trading: Asian stocks move higher following overnight gains in U.S. technology stocks

Asian stocks were higher, with technology stocks leading U.S. stocks higher on Monday, with key inflation data and bank earnings due this week. Australian and South Korean stocks climbed, and Japanese stocks also moved higher after the holiday. Earlier data showed that inflation in Tokyo slowed for the second straight month in December, a reading that was broadly in line with the Central Bank's view that import-driven price pressures were fading. On Monday, the Nasdaq 100 outperformed the broader market, with Nvidia's shares surging after announcing a new artificial intelligence product for personal computers. U.S. stock index futures held steady. U.S. Treasury yields edged lower in early Asian trading, while the U.S. dollar Exchange rate held steady. Bitcoin prices soared as U.S. regulators were expected to approve exchange-traded funds (ETFs) investing directly in Bitcoin for the first time. Specifically: Equities S&P 500 futures were largely flat, with the S&P 500 up 1.4% overnight Nasdaq 100 futures were little changed, with the Nasdaq 100 up 2.1% overnight Japan's Topix up 1% Australia's S&P/ASX 200 up 1.1% Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index futures up 0.8% Currency The dollar spot index was largely flat EUR/USD was largely flat at $1.0956 The Japanese yen rose 0.2% to 144.01 yen against the greenback The offshore yuan was essentially flat at $7.1613 against the dollar AUD/USD was flat at $0.6722 Crypto Assets Bitcoin was essentially flat at $47,101.76 Ether was flat at $2,337.44 Bonds The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note fell 1 basis point to 4.02% Australia's 10-year government bond yield fell 5 basis points to 4.11% Commodities West Texas Intermediate crude oil was largely flat Spot gold rose 0.2% to 2 an ounce, 032.78 USD