The Japanese benchmark closed lower on Monday after seven straight sessions of gains as the yen rose sharply against the U.S. dollar and oil prices slipped.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index doffed 24.33 points, or 0.1%, to end the week’s first session at 18,356.89, clawing back earlier losses of more than 0.8%. The weakness in the Japanese benchmark is likely due to yen strength, which is seen as a negative for Japanese export-oriented stocks.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 107.12 points, or 0.5%, to 22,830.57
The yen fell more than 1% against the dollar earlier, but was trading at 112.13 around mid-afternoon local time.
Australian markets were weighed by weaknesses in its energy sub-index, which fell 1.9%, and its materials sub-index, which was down 1.3%
Tabcorp jumped 1.9% at $4.72 U.S. per share, after The Mail on Sunday reported that British bookmaker Ladbrokes Coral planned to make a two-billion-pound ($2.5-billion U.S.) bid for the Australian betting company.
In South Korea, the Kospi recovered from earlier losses to close up. Hundreds of thousands people rallied in Seoul at the weekend for the fifth straight week of protests against President Park Geun-hye, who is embroiled in a scandal over influence-peddling.
Samsung Electronics shares were trading up 1.6% at 1,677,000 won each, after Seoul Economic Daily reported that the electronics giant was considering a split into two companies, as proposed by U.S. activist hedge fund Elliot Management. Samsung Electronic's split would boost shareholder value.
Across the Asia Pacific region, major oil companies were mostly lower. Australia's Santos dropped 2.6% to A$4.08 per share, while Oil Search stock fell 3% to A$6.73 and Japan's Inpex was down 1% at 1,088 yen. South Korea's S-Oil bucked the trend, up 0.8% at 86,000 won.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai added 13.78 points, or 0.4%, to 3,535.08
Last Friday, China and Hong Kong securities regulators announced that the long-awaited Hong Kong-Shenzhen stock connect would kick-off on December 5. The trading link would allow foreign investors to trade Shenzhen stocks from Hong Kong.
In the oil patch, China's Shanghai Pechem traded up 1.3% at 6.19 yuan
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi recovered 3.67 points, or 0.2%, at 1,978.13
The Straits Times Index in Singapore gained 15.32points, or 0.5%, to 2,874.65
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index moved up 63.17 points, or 0.7%, to 9,222.24
The NZX 50 closed up 3.35 points, or 0.1%, at 6,902.96
Australia's benchmark ASX 200 retreated 43.39 points, or 0.8%, at 5,464.40
