Asian equity markets ended mix on Monday as oil prices declined after last week's sharp rally and a slew of data painted a mixed picture of the Chinese economy. Japan shares gained after the Bank of Japan's shock move last week to adopt negative interest rates. Seoul shares closed notably higher on stimulus hopes after official data showed South Korea's exports shrank to nearly a seven-year low in January. Exports dropped 18.5 percent from a year earlier in their biggest drop since the depths of the global financial crisis in 2009. However, China shares fell after China's official manufacturing purchasing manager's index (PMI) came in at 49.4 in January, slightly down from December's 49.7 reading and missing estimates for a score of 49.6 while growth in the services sector activity slowed from the previous month. However, the Caixin China manufacturing PMI, a private gauge of nationwide factory activity, edged up to 48.4 from 48.2 in December, offering some respite to investors worried over slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy. The Malaysian market was closed in observance of Federal Territory Day.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,688.85 | - 48.75 | -1.78 |
| Hang Seng | 19,595.50 | -87.61 | -0.45 |
| Jakarta Composite | 4,624.63 | 9.47 | 0.21 |
| KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
| Nikkei 225 | 17,865.23 | 346.93 | 1.98 |
| Straits Times | 2,602.41 | -26.70 | -1.02 |
| KOSPI Composite | 1,924.82 | 12.76 | 0.67 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 8,156.96 | 11.75 | 0.14 |