SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Chinese stocks led Asian markets higher on Monday as investors bet on a steady recovery for the world’s no. 2 economy, though caution about the fate of U.S. stimulus kept the dollar firm and a central bank policy tweak unwound some of the yuan’s gains.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Malaysia’s industrial production index in August rose 0.3% from a year earlier, the second straight month of positive growth although at a slower pace compared to July, government data showed on Monday.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped for a second straight session on Monday as U.S. producers began restoring output after Hurricane Delta weakened, while a strike that had affected production in Norway came to an end.

A European economic research report expects China to be the only major economy to report positive growth in 2020, while the global economy is predicted to contract by 4.4 percent, signaling a steady recovery for the world's second-largest economy in the post-pandemic era.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The recovery in China’s service sector activity extended into a fifth straight month in September, an industry survey showed on Friday, with hiring increasing for the second month in a row.

TOKYO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Asian shares inched close to 2-1/2-year highs on Friday as revived hopes for a U.S. stimulus deal eclipsed weaker-than-expected jobs data, while mainland Chinese markets jumped after a week-long holiday.