Chinese stocks led losses in Asia-Pacific markets on Monday as investors reacted to China's inflation data for March and monitored the COVID situation on the mainland.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 164.28 points, or 0.6%, to 26,821.52.
The Japanese yen traded at 125.22 per U.S. dollar, still weaker as compared to levels below 123.2 seen against the greenback last week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dumped 663.71 points, or 3%, to 21,208.30.
Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio plunged 11.44% after the firm announced a suspension in production due to disruptions at its supply chain partners as a result of the COVID outbreak.
Australian dollar was at $0.7433 following last week's drop from above $0.763.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 swooned 130.7 points, or 3.1%, to 4,100.07.
China's producer inflation for March was higher than expected. The producer price index surged 8.3% as compared with a year ago, official data showed Monday, above expectations for a 7.9% increase in a Reuters poll.
Chinese consumer inflation also rose more than expected in March, with the consumer price index climbing 1.5% year-on-year. That was above expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.2% increase.
The data release comes as mainland China is fighting to control its worst wave of COVID since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.
Shanghai reported a record high combined number of cases for Sunday, 914 with symptoms and 25,173 without.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index docked 19.72 points, or 0.6%, to 3,363.56
In Korea, the Kospi index faded 7.29 points, or 0.3%, to 2,693.10.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index subtracted 236.17 points, or 1.4%, to 17,048.37.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 fell 134.24 points, or 1.1%, to 11,932.03.
In Australia, the ASX 200 poked ahead 7.2 points, or 0.1%, to 7,485.19.
