Asian markets mixed

Asian markets were mixed as investors awaited key inflation data due this week.

12punto

Asia-Pacific markets followed a mixed course on Monday, as investors awaited a series of key economic data to be released on Tuesday and inflation data coming at the end of this week.

Inflation data for Tokyo will be released on Tuesday, and these figures are seen as a leading indicator for nationwide trends. South Korean inflation figures will also be released on the same day.

The Reserve Bank of Australia will hold its final meeting of the year tomorrow, and economists expect the bank to keep interest rates at 4.35 percent.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 led the gains among major Asia-Pacific benchmarks, rising 0.97 percent.

In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.64 percent, while the small-cap Kosdaq pared back earlier gains to record a 0.17 percent increase.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.51 percent, and the Topix dropped 0.65 percent.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.2 percent, while China's CSI 300 index fell 0.23 percent.