Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in the early deals on Monday in quiet holiday trading, with several of the markets remaining closed for the Christmas holiday. Investors chose to remain on the sidelines in the absence of fresh cues. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei share average edged down led by falls in banking and exporter stocks with risk appetite sapped by a pause in the yen's recent tendency to weaken. Among the other Asian markets, Shanghai is in negative territory. Bucking the trend, South Korea and Taiwan are edging higher. The markets in Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia are closed for the Christmas holiday.
Nikkei 225 declined 15.39 points or 0.08% to 19,412.28, and Shanghai Composite was down by 24.34 points or 0.78% to 3,085.82.
On the flip side, KOSPI Index added 1.26 points or 0.06% to 2,036.86, and Taiwan Weighted was up by 30.26 points or 0.33% to 9,108.90.