Asian markets end mostly higher on Monday

Asian equity markets ended mostly higher on Monday, even as worries about impending interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve continued to reverberate through markets. Chinese shares ended higher despite worries about slowing growth and fading hopes for more policy easing. Japanese shares fell, with renewed strength in yen, weak exports data and fears the government will proceed with sales tax hike weighing on sentiment. Japanese exports dropped 10.1 percent year-over-year in April, worse than March's 6.8 percent slide, reflecting sluggish demand from China, the emerging markets and the US. Separately, the latest flash survey from Markit Economics showed that activity in Japan's manufacturing sector deteriorated at the steepest pace in over three years in May.