Asian stocks rose broadly on Monday after U.S. employers unexpectedly cut jobs in July and hiring figures for the prior two months were revised downward, easing the risk of an immediate U.S. interest-rate hike. China's Shanghai Composite index rose 0.67 percent to 3,966.59 as signs of persistent deflationary pressures fueled speculation that Beijing could roll out more stimulus, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surged 1.05 percent to 25,937.49. Japan's Nikkei average jumped 2.08 percent to 66,970.22, reaching its highest level in nearly four weeks, and Seoul's Kospi index surged 0.65 percent to 6,299.66. Australian markets ended lower, with the S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.33 percent to 9,232.60 as Westpac Banking Corp shares slumped 5.9 percent after the lender reported a sharp drop in mortgage applications and warned that housing credit growth could halve next year. U.S. stocks advanced on Friday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.6 percent to a new record closing high, after data showed non-farm payroll employment fell by 23,000 jobs in July against expectations of an 88,000 increase.
