By Gina Lee

Investing.com – Asia Pacific stocks were up on Monday morning, with investors digesting Japanese data and looking ahead to a week of central bank meetings that could indicate the end of U.S. policy stimulus.

Japan’s rose 0.98% by 9:01 PM ET (2:01 AM GMT). The fourth quarter 2021 saw the average age of 18 and an increase in the number of people living with disabilities to 9.

South Korea’s rose 0.80% and in Australia, the gained 0.54%.

Hong Kong’s jumped 1.61%.

China’s rose 1.09% and the gained 0.51%, with and data due on Wednesday.

Investors are also keeping an eye on China’s outlook after top officials said their key goals for 2022 include counteracting growth pressures and stabilizing the economy. These statements raised hopes for fiscal stimulus starting in 2022.

The U.S. closed Friday at an all-time high after inflation data from November which mostly matched expectations. Consumer price index (CPI), which grew by 6.8% and 0.8%, grew while core CPI was up 4.9% and 0.5%.

The benchmark was at 1.5%, and the yield curve represents the lowest point in the tightening cycle.

Investors are now awaiting the on Wednesday. The Fed is one of the 20 central bank members that will meet this week. Other participants include the, the and.

However, the outlook still remains uncertain as countries impose restrictive measures to curb the spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the U.K. faces a “tidal wave” of omicron infections.

“Global equities had a solid run last week and we’ll see if the goodwill lasts into what is a behemoth when it comes to event risk,” Pepperstone Financial Pty Ltd. head of research Chris Weston said in a note. However, sentiment must be determined by the Fed and omicron, Weston said.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions are on the rise after the Group of Seven warned Russia on Sunday to de-escalate its activities around Ukraine or face “massive consequences.”