Asian markets wavered in Monday trade after U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index ending lower for the fourth straight session.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 plummeted 300.43 points, or 1.3%, to end the week’s first session at 22,380.99, its lowest close since October 31.
Trading houses, financials and tech plays ended mostly lower. Energy-related stocks, however, were mixed against the broadly declining index: JXTG Holding closed up 1.7% while Inpex slid 1.7%
The Hang Seng Index moved forward 61.26 points, or 0.2%, to 29,182.18
Shares of Country Garden Holdings and Sunny Optical Technology (Group) got a boost after the companies were included in the Hang Seng. Property developer Country Garden jumped 6% and Sunny Optical advanced 5.2%. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific Airways and Kunlun Energy fell 0.7% and 3.2%, respectively, after being removed from the index.
In Korea, Amorepacific closed up 0.6% Hyundai Motor jumped 3.9% and Samsung Heavy fell 2.8% by the end of the session.
Australian markets closed lower, as moderate losses in the heavily-weighted financials sub-index, which fell 0.5%, weighed on the broader index.
The Australian dollar edged up to $0.7657 U.S. after trading as low as $0.7638 earlier in the day. The currency had been pressured following the release of the Reserve Bank of Australia's quarterly statement last week.
Moves in the currency also followed after news of yet another member of Parliament resigning on Saturday due to citizenship issues. The Australian constitution blocks dual nationals from Parliament.
Canada is among 11 countries which have agreed on "core elements" in a regional trade pact from which the U.S. pulled out earlier this year. Japan has led talks for the trade deal, called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), since the U.S. withdrew. Reuters reported the agreement had not yet been finalized.
E-commerce giant Alibaba said it brought in a record $25 billion U.S. in sales on Singles' Day this year, above last year's haul of $17.8 billion. The online shopping event, which initially began as an anti-Valentines' Day celebration of sorts, takes place annually on Nov. 11.
Meanwhile, ride-hailing platform Uber is on the verge of reaching an agreement to sell a stake of the company to Japan's SoftBank, the New York Times reported. The deal would see a group of SoftBank-led investors take a stake of at least 14% in Uber, the Times added. Shares of SoftBank closed down 0.3%.
Razer, a gaming hardware company, was in focus as it made its debut on the Hong Kong Exchange. The company's shares rose more than 30% above its issue price of HK$3.88 at the open. Razer's listing follows China Literature's Hong Kong debut last week, which saw the Tencent-backed online literature platform's stock rise some 90% on its first day of trade.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 lost 0.97 points to 4,128.07
Bank stocks traded on the mainland closed the session higher following an announcement last week that China would be easing foreign ownership rules in the financial sector: ICBC closed up 2.4%, and Merchants Bank rose 2.1% by the end of the session.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index fell 12.6 points, or 0.5%, to 2,530.35
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index subtracted 48.75 points, or 0.5%, to 10,683.92
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dropped 0.97 points to 3,419.13
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 inched up two points to 7,976.43
In Australia, the ASX 200 subtracted 7.6 points, or 0.1%, to 6,021.77
