Australia's S&P/ASX 200 opened up 18.3 points (+0.20%) to 9,077.2 on Monday, Aug 24.

Japan 10-year government bond yield rose 1.5 bps to 2.89%.

An Iranian senior official told the Jerusalem Post and Al Mayadeen that Tehran has been invited to join the Mecca collective defence pact set up earlier this month by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The invitation has not been confirmed by Iran’s foreign ministry or by any of the three pact members. Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Islamic Consultative Assembly news agency, said Iran has received the invitation and is reviewing it, adding regional states are moving toward a regional security umbrella and describing the development as a diplomatic win for Iran.