Investing.com - Asian shares were mixed on Monday with Tokyo flat after disappointing figures on machinery orders.
The Nikkei 225 opened down 0.02% after core machinery orders for January slumped 8.2% year-on-year, compared with a 3.3% drop seen and dipped 3.2% month-on-month, compared to a 0.5% increase expected. USD/JPY rose 0.05% to 114.86 after the data.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.51% as the energy sub-index fell on weaker oil prices.
In South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.36% as former president Park Geun-hye left the presidential Blue House on Sunday, two days after the Constitutional Court's decision to remove her from office over a corruption scandal, which also involves Samsung (KS:005930)'s de facto chief Jay Y. Lee.
South Korean finance minister said on Saturday that the government would take measures to stabilize markets if any volatility were to arise from the political turmoil.
Last week, U.S. equities closed higher on Friday, as expectations of a March rate hike grew to its highest level, after nonfarm payrolls for February beat expectations.
The Labor Department's non-farm payrolls report showed employers added 235,000 jobs last month, beating expectations for 200,000 while wage growth rose by only 0.2% compared to forecasts of a 0.3% increase.
The key jobs report came ahead of a packed economic schedule next week, as the Federal Reserve is widely expected to increase interest rates. According to Investing.com’s Fed rate monitor tool, 93% of traders expect a rate hike in March, compared to just 80% of traders on Monday.
On the political front, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked the remaining 46 chief federal prosecutors appointed by former President Barack Obama to resign "in order to ensure a uniform transition" the Justice Department said on Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.21% higher at 20,902. The S&P 500 gained 0.33% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.39% to close at 5,861.73. The Dow, S&P and Nasdaq ended a six-week winning streak.