Hong Kong shares rebounded on Monday after two consecutive losses, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index advancing 354 points or 1.6 percent to close at 23,026 points.

The Hang Seng Tech Index, meanwhile, jumped 3.2 percent at the close.

Hong Kong-listed shares of Baidu surged 8.6 percent at one stage during the session - before easing to close 5.6 percent higher.

The gains came on reports that its artificial intelligence chip unit Kunlunxin is targeting an initial public offering in the SAR, which could value its affiliate at US$50 billion.

On the mainland, shares also rallied with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gaining 1.1 percent to close at 4,073 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.2 percent higher at 15,812 points.

Weight-loss drug, bioproduct and recombinant protein stocks led the gains, while non-metallic materials, electronic components and consumer electronics stocks posted the biggest losses.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 0.5 percent to close at 4,216 points.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 3.1 percent higher at 2,416 points.

Elsewhere in the region, Japan's Nikkei 225 was 0.1 percent higher, ending the session at 69,468 points while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.2 percent to 8,394 points.

Tech firms were again in the spotlight after leading hefty losses last week, with South Korean chip makers SK Hynix and Samsung extending last week's selling and weighing on the country's benchmark index.

Samsung Electronics sank 4.8 percent, while memory chipmaker SK Hynix fell 1.7 percent. (Xinhua and agencies)



Edited by Altis Wong