Asia markets begin the trading week on firmer footing, with selected exporters and resource shares rebounding after a sharp sell-off on Friday.

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks revved back to life in early Monday moves, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.9% to 4,082.50 after a 2.7% drop Friday. China-sensitive shares appeared to get a boost from weekend comments by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who promised a commitment to timely pro-growth policies. Mining majors BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Ltd. rose 2.2% and 1.1%, respectively, while BlueScope Steel Ltd. jumped 3%. Gold producer Newcrest Mining Ltd. climbed 1.6%, tracking a rebound in gold prices. Building-materials supplier James Hardie Industries SE tacked on 1.4% after its operating profit slipped slightly but still beat market expectations.

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks rose in a choppy Monday open, as select shares rebounded off of heavy losses in the previous week, and defensive retail-stock plays outperformed. Despite negative leads from the U.S. and Europe Friday, Japan's globally traded blue chips outpaced the market, with the Nikkei Stock Average rising 0.4% to 8,645.04, beating a 0.2% gain for the broader Topix. Amid a modest rebound in the euro to above 101 yen, companies with strong European exposure were among the gainers, including a 0.6% rise for Sony Corp. and a 1% advance for Mazda Motor Corp. . Other major names on the march higher included NEC Corp. , up 1.7%, and Fujitsu Ltd. , ahead by 1.4%. Among the techs, Renesas Electronics Corp. was a major loser, trading down 4%. Meanwhile, retailers were broadly stronger, with Fast Retailing Co. up 1.7%, and Takashimaya Co. gaining 0.9%.

While some see Singapore’s property market as too hot to handle, several analysts argue there’s still money to be made for the long-sighted equity investor.

Argentines are increasingly turning to the black market to buy dollars in the wake of currency restrictions imposed by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez, the Associated Press reported on Saturday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has vowed to make growth a bigger priority after the Chinese economy showed signs of weakness, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday. Wen also said the authorities will maintain a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, repeating the central government's standard policy rhetoric, Xinhua said.

After the worst week of the year for U.S. stocks, investors will be looking for signs of whether the U.S. economy can continue to recover in the face of ongoing uncertainty about Greece, Spain and global growth prospects.

The housing market is showing signs of life. Larry Kofsky has a preview of the trading sessions ahead.

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Spain says it may have to again revise its 2011 budget deficit upward, the Associated Press reported late Friday. Spending by four regional governments within Spain -- Madrid, Valencia, Andalusia and Castilla-Leon -- exceeded forecasts, driving up the national deficit for a second time. AP said the government now projects a possible deficit that is equal to 8.9% of GDP, nearly three times the recommended maximum for nations using the euro. The government said it still expects to hit a 5.3% budget deficit this year.