Asia-Pacific Shares Mixed; Jump in Oil Prices Drive Energy Shares Higher in Japan

On Monday, investors responded to an intensification in the European energy crisis, a rise in crude oil prices, and a dramatic increase in the value of the US dollar by trading in the main Asia-Pacific stock markets in a mixed manner. The Shanghai Index in China and the S&P/ASX 200 Index in Australia had the best performances. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong is down more than 1%.

China Stock COVID Restrictions Put Pressure on Yuan Weakness

Consumer goods led the decline in China's blue-chip stocks on Monday as COVID-19 restrictions tightened in several major cities and foreign investors sold their holdings as the Yuan fell to a more than two-year low.

The benchmark Shanghai Index is up 13.43 or +0.42% at 3199.91 as of 07:29 GMT.

The southwestern city of Chengdu declared an expansion of shutdown limitations, while China's southern tech capital of Shenzhen stated it would implement tier-based anti-virus restriction measures beginning on Monday.

As a result of the recently enacted COVID limitations and the broad dollar strength on the global market, the Chinese Yuan hit a fresh, more than two-year low versus the U.S. dollar. This action led foreign investors to sell Chinese shares worth more than 6.5 billion Yuan ($940 million) via the stock link program.

According to recent COVID-19 flare-ups, China's services sector's robust recovery slowed down a little in August, although business optimism reached a nine-month high, according to a private study.

Consumer staples fell 2.1%, while the European energy issue helped Chinese energy shares rise 4.7%, with coal miners up 5%.

Hong Kong technology stock prices declined, with Meituan, Tencent, and Alibaba leading the way with declines between 2% and 3.1%.

Wall Street Weakness Drags Down Japanese Stocks

In line with Wall Street's poor performance last week, the Nikkei share average in Japan declined for a fourth consecutive session on Monday. This decline coincided with the lack of market-moving indications brought on by a U.S. banking holiday.

The Nikkei 225 Index of Japan closed at 27619.61, down 31.23 points or 0.11%. In contrast to the 1.13 billion average for the previous 30 days, 0.85 billion shares were traded on the main board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Refiners and explorers both saw increases in their share prices of energy companies as oil prices jumped above $2.00 per barrel.

Australian Shares Gain as Investors Wait for the Next RBA Rate Hike as Higher Commodity Prices

As investors awaited the central bank's interest rate decision in the face of intensifying inflationary pressures, Australian shares ended the day higher as the resource-dependent market was supported by higher oil and metal prices.

Closed at 6852.20, up 23.50 or +0.34%, the S&P/ASX 200 Index.

Miners increased 2.1% and were the biggest gainers on the local exchange in sector and stock-related news as iron ore prices recovered. BHP Group and Rio Tinto, two market leaders, saw gains of 3.2% and 1.8%, respectively.