The National Bureau of Statistics has released CPI figures for April which show a YOY 8.5% increase. Since the markets had been retreating for a week in advance of the news, the just-as-anticipated data was cause for a rebound in the mainland Chinese markets on Monday.

Stocks started the day more than 2% lower than the previous session and took a brief dip to intraday lows in early trading. Then as agricultural, pharmaceutical and financial stocks firmed up, the major indices in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets gradually followed. By the end of the day's trading, the Shanghai composite index had advanced to 3626.98, gaining 13.49 or 0.37% and the Shenzhen component index added 85.73 or 0.66%, closing at 13166.10. Advancers outnumbered decliners by a ratio of roughly 3 to 1, with trading volume dwindling to 90% of last Friday's.

Energy issues that had been active in the past week faded today and real estate shares continued to be laggards in the markets as well.