Asia stocks were mixed on Monday as Chinese factory activity in September came in above expectations.
The Nikkei 225 lost 123.06 points, or 0.6%, to 21,755.84, as shares of index heavyweight and conglomerate Softbank Group plunged 2.62%.
The Japanese yen traded at 107.77 against the U.S. dollar after weakening from levels below 107.2 in the previous trading week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index recovered 137.46 points, or 0.5%, to 26,092.27, as shares of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing advanced 1.1%
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser APAC listing jumped more than 3% in afternoon trade on its public debut in Hong Kong on Monday, against the backdrop of protests that have lasted for months in the city. The IPO is the second largest of 2019, with shares priced last week at the low end of the expected range.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6749 after slipping from levels above $0.678 last week.
CHINA
In China, the CSI 300 faded 38.12 points, or 1%, to 3,814.53
Investors continued to watch developments on the U.S.-China trade front.
The White House is reportedly considering curbs on U.S. investments in China. That included the possibility of blocking all American investments in Chinese companies, the source said.
The Chinese state-owned Global Times, in a piece published Sunday, described the potential restrictions from Washington on U.S. investments in China as "the latest attempt at a decoupling."
Beijing’s top trade negotiator, Liu He, is expected to lead his country’s delegation to the United States one week after China’s National Holiday.
Chinese manufacturing activity for September came in above expectations, according to data released on Monday.
A private survey showed Chinese manufacturing activity expanding more than expected in September. The Caixin/Markit factory Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came in at 51.4 for September, above expectations of 50.2 by analysts. The PMI reading had come in at 50.4 in August. The 50 level separates expansion from contraction in PMI readings.
The official Chinese manufacturing PMI for September was also above expectations, but still showed a contraction at 49.8 in September, higher than expectations of 49.5 by analysts. That compared against an official PMI reading of 49.5 in August.
In other markets
Markets in Taiwan were shuttered for holiday
In Korea, the Kospi index regained 13.12 points, or 0.6%, to 2,063.05
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index doffed 5.64 points, or 0.2%, to 3,119.99
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 89.13 points, or 0.8%, to 10,925.62
In Australia, the ASX 200 shed 27.77 points, or 0.4%, to 6,688.35
