Asian equity markets ended mostly lower Monday in quiet trading after a U.S. holiday Friday, with some caution creeping in as the U.S. corporate earnings season drew closer.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index lost 135.20 points, or 1.4%, to end the week's first session at 9,680.87
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index tumbled 223.39 points, or 1.2% to 17,979.41.
Oil, shipping and steel stocks retreated for another session. Inpex Corp. lost 3% and Nippon Yusen K.K. dropped 3.4% in Tokyo, BHP Billiton shed 2.4% and Santos gave up 4% in Sydney, and Cnooc and PetroChina Co. both shrank 2.2% in Hong Kong.
Rio Tinto shares also fell 2.2% in Sydney, after the Anglo-Australian miner said it would sell its Alcan Packaging Food Americas division to Bemis Co. for $1.2 billion U.S.
Blue-chip exporter stocks were lower in Tokyo on the yen's strength, with Sony Corp. off 1.2% and Honda Motor Co. down 1.5%.
Samsung Electronics jumped 5.5% in Seoul. The world's biggest memory-chip maker by revenue said it expected second-quarter sales to come in higher than a year earlier, while its operating profit was expected to be between KRW2.2 trillion and KRW2.6 trillion.
Samsung Engineering added 1.8% on news it had signed a $2.6-billion U.S., three-year contract with Algerian state-owned Sonatrach to modernize an oil refinery.
Taiwan construction stocks were supported by a report in the Commercial Times the government would speed up its urban renewal plans. Founding Construction & Development rose by its daily 7% limit.
Trading was choppy in the currency markets after the U.S. holiday, with the Japanese yen making some gains as regional stock markets fell.
The euro was at $1.3927 U.S., from $1.3985 U.S. late in North America on Friday, and at Y132.69, from Y134.25. The U.S. dollar was at Y95.26, from Y95.99.
CHINA
China’s Shanghai Composite Index picked up 47.62 points, or 1.4% to 3,374.75, for its fourth straight winning session.
Chinese property stocks added to their recent gains amid reports on an improving demand outlook, with China Vanke Co. shares rising 1.2% in Shenzhen, while China Resources Land rose 1.5% and Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. added 1.1% in Hong Kong.
Elsewhere:
Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 33.66 points, or 1.5%, to 2,266.09
South Korea’s Kospi index advanced 8.90 points, or 0.6%, to 1,428.94
Taiwan’s Taiex fell 15.49 points, or 0.2%, to 6,669.91
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index stumbled 18.53 points, or 0.7%, to 2,742.97
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 subtracted 44.50 points, or 1.2%, to 3,783.70
