Taipei - Taiwan stocks fell more than 2 per cent Monday despite government measures to stabilize the stock market amid global jitters.

The TAIEX index plunged more than 3 per cent in mid-session trading but closed at 5,020.44, down 110.27 points or 2.15 per cent from the last trading day.

The plunge occurred despite the Taiwan government's announcement of three measures to shore up the stock market.

The new measures including limiting stocks' rise or fall to 3.5 per cent, down form the previous 7 per cent in any trading session, extending the ban on short-selling and continuing to use the National Stabilization Fund to continue to intervene in the market.

Sydney - Australian stocks maintained their opening-bell rally to the close of trading Monday as investors picked up bargain-basement financials following Canberra's weekend decision to join other governments in guaranteeing bank deposits.

The ASX 200 gained 220 points, or 5.5 per cent, to 4,180.

High Street banks were in demand, with National Australia Bank and ANZ registering gains of almost 10 per cent.

Commsec economist Craig James said that bargain hunting would buoy the market following Friday's 8.3-per-cent crash, the biggest drop since 1987.

Wellington - The New Zealand stock market - the first to open and close every day - finished down again Monday after rallying in nervous trading.

The benchmark NZX 50 index, which slumped 4.7 per cent to 2,805.31 on Friday, ended the day Monday 0.82 per cent lower on 2,782.39.

Trading began the day in negative territory but the index recovered to be up by more than 1 per cent by noon before falling again.

The supportive words from the finance minister and central bank (RBI) and the strong movement in Asian and European stock markets keep the market high up in the positive territory this afternoon.

The stocks are trading strongly on the back of continued buying activity seen across sectors including banking, consumer goods, metal, power and realty. 

Indian stock markets belled the day positively, after closing the last week at 10,527.85, down 800.51 points, on Friday (Oct 10). 

Today, the 30-share index, BSE Sensex opened at 10,817.68 after gaining 289.83 points. 

Jakarta - Indonesia's stock exchange resumed trading on Monday following a three-day halt after the bourse cut the limit on stock-price movements and the government eased buyback rules to help revive investor confidence.

The Indonesia Stock Exchange said its benchmark composite index fell 85.43 points, or 5.88 per cent, to 1,366.24 about an hour after it reopened. The IDX opens its morning session at 9:30 am (0230 GMT).

Taipei - Taiwan stocks plunged more than 3 per cent Monday despite government measures to stabilize the stock market amid global jitters.

Two hours into trading, the TAIEX index had fallen 156.22 points, or 3.04 per cent, to 4,974.71.

The plunge occurred despite the Taiwan government's announcement of three measures to shore up the stock market.