Asia markets traded mixed, with the Nikkei continuing its third straight session of gains, likely getting a boost from a weaker yen and better-than-expected Japanese economic data.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 297.83 points, or 1.7%, to close Monday at 17,672.62, following the release of Japan's third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP), which showed the economy grew 2.2% year-on-year, beating an economist poll estimate of 0.9%.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong fell 308.87 points, or 1.4%, to 22,222.22
The yen remained weak against the U.S. dollar early in Asia, with the dollar fetching 107.52 yen as of late afternoon, compared with levels around 104 on election day in the U.S. last week.
Markets in Australian were weighed by the materials sub-index, which was down 1.31 percent, and its financials subindex, which fell 0.5%.
Australia's major banks Westpac and ANZ fell 3.2% and 1.5% respectively, as they traded ex-dividend.
Major gold miners were also lower; Newcrest Mining was down 7.1%, Northern Star Resources slipped 9.2% and Evolution Mining shed 9.7%. The ASX All Ordinaries Gold index was 7.9% lower as gold's appeal as a safe haven continued to lose traction after Donald Trump's win.
Korean markets sank, amid a growing political crisis, which saw hundred of thousands of demonstrators calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation over the weekend.
The New Zealand dollar fell as low as $0.7071 U.S. in Asia trade, and was trading at $0.7083 as of early afternoon, compared with levels above $0.72 U.S. last week, after another earthquake struck the country on Monday, this time of magnitude 6.2. That followed an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude that struck New Zealand's South Island just after midnight.
The earthquake also weighed on shares of New Zealand insurer Tower, which was off 7.1%, after falling as much as 10.6% to a 13-year low earlier in the session.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai advanced 13.03 points, or 0.4%, to 3,430.25
Shares of China's LeEco broke their recent losing streak, trading up as much as 4%, before settling up 1.8%. Shares of the technology company had been under pressure after its founder wrote a letter to employees admitting to cash and funding problems
Economic data out of China on Monday were mixed. China's fixed-asset investment rose 8.3% in the January-to-October period, beating market expectations, while October industrial output and retail sales growth missed forecasts.
October industrial output rose just 6.1% compared with a poll forecasting 6.2%, while retail sales grew 10% on-year in October, missing a poll estimate of 10.7%..
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi dropped 10.03 points, or 0.5%, at 1,974.40
The Straits Times Index in Singapore slipped 27.33 points, or 1%, to 2,787.27
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index lost 17.36 points, or 0.2%, to 8,940.40
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 39.38 points, or 0.6%, to 6,637.76
Australia's benchmark ASX 200 dropped 25.01 points, or 0.5%, at 5,345.73
