Action in the Asia-Pacific fell to trading Monday morning as developments on the coronavirus pandemic continue by investors.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index led gains regionally as it jumped 1.43% in early trading.
Chinese parts of the mainland were mixed. The composition of Shanghai was slightly higher, while the Shenzhen component advanced 0.18%. The ChiNext slipped 0.314% as the first batch of companies listed on the Nasdaq-style board under its revised IPO system made its debut on Monday. New regulations now also allow shares on ChiNext to increase in a session as much as 20% upwards, compared to 10% previously, according to Reuters.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.36%, while the Topix index was 0.21% higher in morning trading. The Kospi of South Korea added 0.94%.
Shares in Australia also edge higher, with the S & P / ASX 200 up 0.17%.
Overall, the MSCI Asia-Ex-Japan Index traded 0.74% higher.
Shares in India will be seen on Monday after the number of cases of coronavirus crossed the 3 million mark, according to the latest data from the Government of India’s Ministry of Public Health and Family Welfare. India currently has the third largest number of coronavirus cases worldwide, behind the US and Brazil, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering the rapid follow-up to an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed in the United Kingdom for state side ahead of the nation’s upcoming presidential election, according to a Financial Times report.
The US dollar index, which tracked the greenback against a rate of its peers, was at 93,144 after its rise from levels below 92.4 last week.
The Japanese yen traded at 105.73 per dollar after strengthening levels above 106 against the greenback in the previous trading week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $ 0.7174 after a decline last week of above $ 0.724.
Oil prices were higher in the morning of Asian trading hours, with international benchmark Brent-crude futures up 0.32% at $ 44.49 per barrel. US crude futures also gained 0.33% to $ 42.48 per barrel.
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