Asian shares and the dollar edged lower on Monday as investors awaited central bank meetings in the United States and Japan this week that are expected to hold clues to future policy moves.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was down 0.2 percent in early trading, taking its cue from a mixed day on Wall Street on Friday.
Markets in Australia were closed for Anzac Day, a public holiday.
Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 shed about 0.5 percent as the yen pulled off its lows. Investors also locked in gains after the index soared to an 11-1/2 week high following a report the Bank of Japan will consider another easing step at its two-day policy review that ends on Wednesday.
US equities closed mixed on Friday despite tech behemoths (Microsoft -7.2% and Google parent Alphabet -5.3%) finishing sharply lower.
The Dow Jones was 21.23 points higher, the S&P500 was flat whilst the Nasdaq closed 39.56 points lower.
There were wins for energy (+1.3%), financials (+1%) and telecoms (+0.8%) whilst tech was down1.9%.
European shares were mostly lower with the Euro Stoxx down 0.34%, the German Dax lost 0.60% and the UK FTSE eased 1.11%.-
Reference: Reuters, MKS Group
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