Asian equity markets ended lower on Monday, with downbeat US data, falling commodity prices and a surging yen weighing on markets in a holiday-affected trading session. Chinese manufacturing data for April also cast doubt over strength of a pick-up in the world's second-largest economy. Activity in China's manufacturing sector expanded for the second month in a row in April but at a slower pace. The PMI fell to 50.1 from 50.2 in March. The PMI for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 53.5 in April, down from 53.8 in March. Japanese shares tumbled as the dollar notched a fresh 18-month low against the yen, fetching 106.14 yen at one time compared with 106.40-50 yen in New York Friday, after the Bank of Japan opted to hold off on further monetary easing. Markets in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia were closed for observance of Labor Day.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | - | - | - |
| Hang Seng | - | - | - |
| Jakarta Composite | 4,808.32 | -30.26 | -0.63 |
| KLSE Composite | - | - | - |
| Nikkei 225 | 16,147.38 | -518.67 | -3.11 |
| Straits Times | - | - | - |
| KOSPI Composite | 1,978.15 | -16.00 | -0.80 |
| Taiwan Weighted | - | - | - |