The pullback in the yen supported the advance in Tokyo's benchmark indexes, and investors awaited the release of Tokyo area inflation, housing starts, and job market updates.
Mixed earnings and economic growth worries kept investor sentiment in check, and market indexes struggled to stay above the flatline in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Trip.com and PetroChina were in focus after earnings releases.
The steady recovery in the yen kept stocks under pressure in Tokyo amid the worry of another rate hike after hawkish comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda.
Stocks in Hong Kong advanced in the hopes of a possible rate in three weeks, following possible monetary policy adjustments by the U.S. Federal Reserve. However, market sentiment remained weak on mainland exchanges.
Japan's overall consumer price inflation held steady for the third month in a row, but core inflation accelerated in July. The yen drifted lower ahead of comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuho Ueda.
China stocks struggled to advance and closed mixed after a week of choppy trading as investors reacted to domestic corporate earnings. Alibaba Group announced its plan to change its Hong Kong listing to a dual-primary listing, allowing the company to access mainland investors.
Japan's private service sector activities expanded for the seventh month in a row, but manufacturing sector activities contracted for the fourth month in a row.
In cautious trading, stock market indexes in Hong Kong and Shanghai edged higher after positive earnings from Xiaomi and AIA. Residential property developers remained under pressure after Kaisa Group estimated a wider loss in the first half.
Stocks in Japan trimmed the previous session's gains amid weakness in tech stocks. Japan's trade deficit soared in July following a faster increase in imports.
China stocks faced additional headwinds amid a rising tide of foreign investors dumping stocks. Walmart is looking to sell its holding in e-commerce platform JD.com at a discount.
Stocks in Tokyo rebounded, and tech stocks led the gainers. The yen remained in focus amid worries of rate path uncertainties ahead of the release of an inflation update later in the week.
The People's Bank of China held steady its 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates after lowering rates last month. Benchmark stock indexes turned lower amid earnings worries and a lack of near-term catalysts to stabilize the residential property market.
Market indexes in Japan fell more than 1% after indexes last week soared the most in five years. Machinery orders rebounded in June from the previous months.
Stocks advanced in Hong Kong and Shanghai ahead of the earnings from leading corporations this week. Also, the easing of fears about the U.S. economic slowdown also contributed to positive market sentiment.
