Stocks in Asia Pacific traded mixed Tuesday morning as investors await the release of a private survey of Chinese manufacturing activity in August.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 shed 0.14% while the Topix index also declined 0.29%. South Korea’s Kospi, on the other hand, advanced 0.73%.

The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia slipped 0.65%.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index traded fractionally higher.

On the economic data front, the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ index (PMI) for August is set to be out at around 9:45 a.m. HK/SIN on Tuesday. On Monday, China’s official manufacturing PMI for August came in at 51.0, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.

PMI readings above 50 signify expansion, while those below that figure indicate contraction. PMI readings are sequential and indicate on-month expansion or contraction.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia is also set to announce its interest rate decision at about 12:30 p.m. HK/SIN on Tuesday.

Ahead of that decision, the Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7384 following a rise yesterday from levels around $0.735.

Overnight stateside, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average wrapped up their best August performances in decades. The Dow fell 223.82 points, or 0.8%, to end its trading day on Wall Street at 28,430.05 and the S&P 500 shed 0.2% to close at 3,500.31. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.7% and finished its trading day at 11,775.46.

The Monday moves left the Dow up 7.6% for August, its biggest gain for that month since 1984. The S&P 500 rose 7% for the same month, notching its best August performance since 1986.

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was last at 92.18 following an earlier slip from around the 92.4 mark.

The Japanese yen traded at 105.98 per dollar after seeing levels around 105.5 against the greenback yesterday.

Oil prices were higher in the morning of Asian trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures up 0.75% to $45.62 per barrel. U.S. crude futures also gained 0.75% to $42.93 per barrel.

What’s on tap:

• China: Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for August at 9:45 a.m. HK/SIN
• Australia: Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate decision at 12:30 p.m. HK/SIN