Most Asian markets rise after last week's sell-off

Most Asian stock markets recovered in early trading Monday after last week's historic sell-off as governments around the world intensifie d efforts to boost the ailing financial system. In Australia, the S&P/ASX200 index was up more than 4 per cent in response to a government plan to guarantee bank and other lender deposits for three years. The benchmark plunged over 8 per cent on Friday, its biggest single-day fall ever. Elsewhere, benchmarks in Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand gained more than 1 per cent, while China and Taiwan stocks traded lower. Japan's market, where the Nikkei 225 tanked 10 per cent Friday to close out its worst week in history, was closed for a public holiday.