Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in the early deals on Monday as demand for riskier assets ebbed after their recent strong gains, while the European Central Bank's apparent equanimity at the euro's two-year highs left the dollar languishing. Meanwhile, the Japanese market is notably lower, following the negative cues from Wall Street. Shares of exporters are hurt by a stronger yen. Among the other Asian markets, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan are modestly lower. Bucking the trend, Shanghai, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Malaysia are in positive territory.
Nikkei 225 declined 175.15 points or 0.87% to 19,924.60, Taiwan Weighted dipped 3.81 points or 0.04% to 10,432.89, KOSPI Index dropped 2.25 points or 0.09% to 2,447.81, and Straits Times was down by 4.45 points or 0.13% to 3,309.67.
On the flip side, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI added 0.57 points or 0.03% to 1,759.73, Shanghai Composite gained 5.79 points or 0.18% to 3,243.77, Jakarta Composite increased 10.35 points or 0.18% to 5,775.77, and Hang Seng was up by 122.98 points or 0.46% to 26,829.07.