Asian stocks experienced a slight increase after US shares rose, indicating a positive trend as global markets enter a traditionally strong period.

The MSCI gauge of Asian shares is set to gain for a second consecutive day, with notable progress in South Korea and Australia. Additionally, Chinese factory activity data released over the weekend showed ongoing expansion in November, contributing to the positive market sentiment.

In Europe, the euro declined due to escalating political tensions in France. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right party, has expressed her readiness to challenge the government, potentially initiating a vote of no-confidence this week. Finance Minister Antoine Armand stated that France will not adhere to arbitrary budget deadlines set by Le Pen, who has called for adjustments to the 2025 budget by Monday. This political uncertainty is compounded by concerns over central bank policies, suggesting that market participants may face a turbulent end to the year.