BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks were mostly higher Monday on a quiet trading day with Hong Kong, Wall Street and London closed for holidays. The numbers suggest that an improving economy could be setting the stage for the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark short-term interest rate. [...] Friday, Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in a speech that she expected the Fed to begin raising rates later this year if the job market improves. Greece's ruling Radical Left Coalition rejected a call by party hardliners to skip its next payment to the International Monetary Fund. The ruling party's central committee also rejected calls to nationalize banks and hold a referendum to allow voters to reject any deal with the European Union and the IMF over debt relief in exchange for fiscal changes. The index has closed at record highs recently, though the gains have been tiny as investors fret over unimpressive earnings and an uncertain global economy.