DHAKA: Asian shares rallied on Monday on the latest British opinion surveys showing a resurgence of the vote to remain part of the European Union.

The British pound also was higher, gaining 1.4% to the US dollar and 1.9% to the Japanese yen.

Global markets were hit last week by nervousness ahead of Britain’s June 23 vote on whether to leave the EU.

Japanese shares have kicked off the week’s trading with strong gains despite a setback in exports.

The country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up by 2.2% to 15,943.76.

New Japanese government data showed that exports in May fell 11.3% compared with a year earlier.

The main factor expected to dominate trading sentiment in the coming days remains the British EU referendum.

‘More volatility is likely this week,’ wrote Margaret Yang, analyst with CMC markets in Singapore, reports the BBC.

‘The entire market is now focused on the UK's EU referendum result.’

Other stock markets in the region also saw strong gains at the start of trading on Monday.

BDST: 1227 HRS, JUN 20, 2016
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