AFP, Hong Kong :
Asian markets were mostly higher on Monday despite fresh evidence indicating that China’s manufacturing sector is shrinking as Tokyo rebounded from a heavy sell-off in the previous session.
The dollar edged up slightly against the yen but investors remain on edge over the Crimea crisis.
Tokyo rose 1.83 percent by the break, Hong Kong added 0.95 percent, Seoul was 0.38 percent higher and Shanghai was up 0.25. But Sydney eased 0.17 percent.
HSBC said preliminary readings showed Chinese factory activity had contracted in March, adding to concerns about the world’s number two economy.
The British banking giant’s flash purchasing managers index (PMI) came in at 48.1, an eight-month low and down from 48.5 in February. A final figure will be released next week.
