Investing.com - Asian stock markets were mixed on Monday, as traders squared positions ahead of key risk events later in the week.
During late Asian trade, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.9%, China’s Shanghai Composite inched up 0.43%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.91% lower, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 ended up 0.44%.
Shares in mainland China and Hong Kong were mixed as traders looked ahead to key manufacturing data out of China due later in the week. Both the government's official purchasing manager's index and HSBC's final PMI reading are due for release on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the ASX/200 Index ended lower as investors awaited a policy decision from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday. The Aussie weakened to 94.03 U.S. cents from 94.21 U.S. cents in the prior session.
Elsewhere, in Tokyo, the Nikkei edged higher after data showed that industrial production rose 0.5% in May, up from April's 2.5% decline.
Gains were limited as the yen strengthened to a one-month high of 101.22 against the U.S. dollar. A stronger yen reduces the value of overseas income at Japanese companies when repatriated, weighing on the outlook for export earnings.
In Europe, regional bourses were modestly higher after the open. Market players were awaiting preliminary data on euro zone inflation later in the trading day ahead of the European Central Bank’s policy meeting on Thursday.
The Euro Stoxx 50 gained 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.1%, Germany’s DAX added 0.2%, while London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.1%.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. equity markets pointed to a weaker open. The Dow pointed to a loss of 0.1%, the S&P 500 indicated a decline of 0.1%, while the Nasdaq 100 pointed to a drop of 0.1%.
Investors were turning their attention to the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, due to be released one day early on Thursday, for further indications on the strength of the labor market.