Asia in mixed territory in the first trading day of the new month

Shares in Asia were mixed in commerce on Monday morning against a backdrop of growing concern about global trade.

Mainland China's shares increased primarily in morning trading, with Shanghai composite adding 0.26% and Shenzhen composite gaining 0.21%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index has a minimal loss.

Data from a private study on Monday showed that Chinese production activity is better than expected in May.

Caixin Manufacturing PMI for May is 50.2, compared with the expectations of 50 analysts in the Reuters poll. PMI excerpts above 50 show an extension while those below this indicate shrinkage.

Last week, China's official PMI for May's production process came to 49.4, less than Reuters's forecast of 49.9. It is also lower than the April average of 50.1. The official non-production PMI for May is 54.3 - unchanged since April.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.04% in morning trading, with Fanuc down by more than 2%. The Topix index also declined by 0.96%. Japanese Softbank Group declined by more than 4% after the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is facing challenges in raising funds for its last fund.

In South Korea, Kospi traded 0.58% higher, as Samsung Electronics rose by more than 2%.

In Australia ASX 200 declined by 0.77% as almost all sectors traded down.

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