Beijing, China (BBN)-Asian shares were down on Monday after Chinese manufacturing data showed slowing growth in the Asian giant.
Hong Kong shares fell on news that China’s services sector grew at its slowest pace in nine months in October, reports BBC.
The non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 53.8 in October from 54 in September due in part to a cooling property market that weighed on demand.
The Hang Seng index was down 0.3% at 23,917.52 points.
Monday’s data comes after a weekend release that showed manufacturing slowed in the world’s second largest economy.
The manufacturing PMI fell to a lower-than-expected 50.8, from 51.1 in the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates growth.
But, shares on the mainland bucked the trend with the Shanghai Composite up 0.5% at 2,432.37.
Japanese markets were closed for a public holiday after hitting highs on Friday on the Bank of Japan’s surprise move to introduce more stimulus measures.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index ended 0.6% lower at 1,952.97 points after data over the weekend showed imports in October fell the most in 13 months on softer demand for raw materials and goods.
Imports fell 3% while exports rose slightly higher than expected in October at 2.5%.
The Korean won also slid to a seven month low against the dollar to 1,072.6.
Australian shares closed down 0.4% to 5,506.4 with shares in the country’s second biggest bank, Westpac, down 0.7% even after it posted a fifth consecutive year of record profit.
The banking giant saw a 12% jump in full-year net profit to $7.56bn Australian dollars ($6.60bn; £4.1bn) on growing loans and customer deposits.
BBN/AS-03Nov14-1:00pm (BST)
