Home World Hong Kong, Taiwan fall more than 1% each as Asia-Pacific investors watch Covid situation in India

SINGAPORE — Stocks in Asia-Pacific slipped on Monday, with major markets in China and Japan closed for holidays.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was among the biggest losers regionally as it fell 1.28% to finish its trading day at 28,357.54. The Taiex in Taiwan also dropped 1.96% to close at 17,222.35.

South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.66% to close at 3,127.20. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 ended the trading day slightly higher at 7,028.80.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.72%.

Investors in Asia-Pacific continued monitoring the Covid situation in India as the country continues to battle a deadly second wave of infections. Over the weekend, more than 400,000 daily new cases were registered for the first time.

Markets in China, Japan, and Thailand were closed on Monday for holidays.

Currencies and oil

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 91.241 after rising late last month from below 90.9.

The Japanese yen traded at 109.68 per dollar, weaker than levels below 108.5 against the greenback seen last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.772, following its tumble in late April from above $0.776.

Oil prices were little changed in the afternoon of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures below the flatline as they traded at $66.74 per barrel. U.S. crude futures hovered above the flatline, trading at $63.60 per barrel.

Source: CNBC

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