Asian shares closed mixed on Monday, with Japanese stocks pressured by strength in the yen after the dollar dropped on U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of the Federal Reserve.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 tumbled 300.89 points, or 1.3%, to 22,396.39, as the dollar extended its losses against the Japanese currency.
Against the yen, the dollar traded at 110.98 after dipping as low as 110.74 earlier in the session following a media report that the Bank of Japan was engaging in "unusually active discussions" ahead of its July decision. The U.S. currency was 0.37 percent weaker than the 111.4 handle seen at the end of Friday trade in New York.
Major exporters closed lower, with the electric appliances sector falling 1% and automakers declining 1.2% Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing dropped 5.7%. Financials, however, recorded sharp gains, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group up 3.6%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 31.64 points, or 0.1%, to 28,256.12, as steep losses in the tech space were offset by gains in property stocks, materials and heavily weighted financials.
In Korea, steep declines in blue chip tech stocks — including Samsung Electronics declining 2% and SK Hynix falling 7.1% — dragged the index lower.
Australian stocks fell amid broad-based losses, with all sectors closing in negative territory bar the energy sub-index.
In individual market movers, shares of telecommunications equipment maker ZTE jumped 1.5% in Hong Kong rose 0.6% in Shenzhen. Those gains came after lawmakers in the U.S. removed measures from a bill that would have put a supplier ban back in place against the company
Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines dropped close to the daily limit of 10%,, extending losses seen on Friday when shares returned to trade after being halted since January.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 moved ahead 32.86 points, or 0.9%, to 3,525.75
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index removed 4.12 points, or 0.1%, to 3,293.71
In Taiwan, the Taiex index picked up 14.78 points, or 0.1%, to 10,946.89
In Korea, the Kospi index eased 19.88 points, or 0.9%, to 2,269.31
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 dipped 82.98 points, or 0.9%, to 8,972.56
In Australia, the ASX 200 lost 58.29 points, or 0.9%, to 6,227.56
