Most Asian markets slid further on Monday, as investors remained cautious after a recent string of weak finishes and before key economic data from the U.S. later in the week.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 shed nearly 0.5 percent to 13,481.38, while in China, the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.5 percent to 2,736.10 points.
Transportation stocks ended on a weak note in Japan, with shares of Nissan Motor Co. dropping 1.5% and Toyota Motor Co. losing 1.2% on high oil prices.
Shares of Sony Corp. skidded 4.1%, hurt after its mobile phone manufacturing joint venture Sony Ericsson Friday forecast that it may not be profitable in the second quarter because demand is slowing.
In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index added 0.3 percent to 22,102.01.
Elsewhere:
South Korea's Kospi fell 0.6% to 1,674.92.
Taiwan's Weighted index finished 0.3% down at 7,523.54.
Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.2% to 2,960.43 by late afternoon.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.4% lower at 5,215.30 on the last trading day of the current financial year. The index rose as high as 5,305.90 earlier in the day, but couldn't hang on to the gains.
with files from other wire services
