Investing.com - Asian shares were mixed on Monday in light trade with the Nikkei 225 gaining ground, but the Shanghai Composite easing in morning sessions.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.63%, after gaining 4.0% last week, while the Shanghai Composite was down 0.27%. South Korea's KOSPI was down 0.3%.
China Vanke Co. fell 0.1% and Petrochina (0857.HK) also eased 0.1%
Some investors are hoping for progress in Trans-Pacific Partnership talks this week as U.S. President Barack Obama visits the region. That would be good for Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who faces rising worries about Japan's economic recovery.
In Japan, investors are concerned about a sales tax increase that took effect this month and company earnings. Earlier on Monday, trade data also helped spur a weaker yen to boost shares. Japan's March trade trade deficit widened to ¥1.446 trillion, compared to a forecast of ¥1.070 trillion, with exports up 1.8% year-on-year, compared to a forecast of a 6.3% year-on-year gain and imports rose 18.1%, with expectations for a 16.2% increase.
Big Japanese companies will start reporting their earnings later this week for the fiscal year ended in March, and offer earnings guidance for the new year. Some investors are wary.
Markets in Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand were closed for the Easter holiday.
On Thursday, the Dow 30 fell 0.10%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.14%, while the Nasdaq index rose 0.23%. Markets were shut on Good Friday.
After the close of European trade, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.52%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.59%, while Germany's DAX rose 0.99%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 rose 0.62%. Most European markets were shut on Good Friday as well.