The Nikkei Stock Average briefly topped the 36,000 mark on Monday, renewing the highest level since February 1990.

The Nikkei 225 ended the day at 35,901, up 0.9 percent from Friday. That's the 5th straight trading day Japan's key benchmark has set new highs going back nearly 34 years.

Shares of securities firms gained, amid growing interest in Japan's tax-exemption program for individual investors. Incentives for the program, called NISA, were expanded starting this month.

Analysts say the outcome of Taiwan's presidential election on Saturday had limited effects on the market overall. They say many investors do not expect the result to impact the Taiwan-China relationship in the short term.