Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed on Monday, as investors reacted to the release of China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for May.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 289.33 points, or 1%, to end the month at 28,860.08.
Japan’s retail sales rose 12% in April as compared with a year earlier, according to government data released Monday .That was against a median market forecast for a 15.3% rise.
The Japanese yen traded at 109.72 per U.S. dollar, after weakening late last week to levels above 110 against the greenback.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.773, lower than levels above $0.776 seen last week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 27.39 points, or 0.1%, to 29,151.80.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 regained 10.48 points, or 0.2%, to 5,331.57.
China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for May came in at 51.0. That compared against analyst expectations for a reading of 51.1 in a Reuters poll. The May figure was also a slight decrease from the previous month’s reading of 51.1.
PMI readings above 50 represent expansion while those below that level signify contraction. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-on-month expansion or contraction.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index docked 14.22 points, or 0.5%, to 3,164.28.
The Kospi index in Korea added 15.19 points, or 0.5%, to 3,203.92
In Taiwan, the Taiex index zoomed 197.57 points, or 1.2%, to 17,068.43
In New Zealand the NZX 50 recovered 138.47 points, or 1.1%, to 12,320.72
In Australia, the ASX 200 dropped 17.88 points, or 0.3%, to 7,161.63.
