Asian shares mostly declined on Monday, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index reaching another record high in morning trading. The Nikkei 225 gained 0.5% to 39,309.76 after a holiday closure on Friday. The dollar edged up to 150.49 Japanese yen, while the euro dipped slightly.
The yen's weakness has attracted foreign investors to Japanese shares, according to market analysts. Meanwhile, Chinese markets saw some profit-taking after recent gains, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite both dropping 0.7%.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 remained relatively stable, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.8%. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at record highs, driven by a strong technology sector.
Earnings reports from key U.S. companies like Lowe's, Dollar Tree, HP, and Best Buy will be closely watched this week. Economic data on consumer sentiment, inflation, and U.S. economic growth are also forthcoming, with an update on Q4 growth expected on Wednesday.
The Federal Reserve is monitoring inflation closely, with recent data suggesting a potential delay in rate hikes. Energy trading saw benchmark U.S. crude and Brent crude prices both declining in electronic trading.
