Major stock indexes in the Asia-Pacific region traded mixed in the afternoon hours on Monday as investors assessed the latest report on the Japanese manufacturing sector activity. Additionally, People's Bank of China (PBoC) Governor Pan Gongsheng signaled that there is room for lower interest rates. Markets also reacted to the Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea on Sunday that claimed 179 lives, while only two people survived.
Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 0.91% at 7:15 am CET, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was flat. A minute later, South Korea's Kospi Composite advanced by 0.14%. On the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.20% and the Shenzhen Composite went down by 0.44% at 7:17 am CET. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped by 0.32% at the close.
The dollar traded flat compared to the yen, going for ¥158.00500 at 7:17 am CET.
