Asian markets opened mostly lower on Monday as many Japanese and South Korean chip-linked heavyweights plunged.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up 102 points, or 0.4 percent, at 25,987.

The China enterprises index was up 46 points, or 0.55 percent, at 8,659 while the tech index was up 32 points, or 0.68 percent at 4,861.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index opened down 19 points, or 0.51 percent, at 3,812.

The Shenzhen Component Index was down 81 points, or 0.6 percent, at 13,497 while the ChiNext Index was down 23 points, or 0.7 percent, at 3,320.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei was 1,121 points, or 1.74 percent, at 63,240 at one stage before noon after opening 527 points, or 0.82 percent, lower at almost 63,835, hurt by a rapid appreciation in the yen after Japan and the United States confirmed they had carried ⁠out a rare joint currency intervention late last week.

In Seoul, the Kospi opened 237 points, or 3.6 percent, down at 6,358 and was 275 points, or 4.17 percent, lower at 6,320 at one stage before lunch as sharp losses in chipmakers outweighed support from strong export data. (Reuters/Xinhua)



Edited by Tony Sabine