Asia markets to focus on FBI's Clinton email investigation, Japan data

Futures pointed to a drop in Asian markets, following a mostly lower U.S. finish on Friday after news the FBI had found new Hillary Clinton emails rocked the presidential election campaign.

The new emails were discovered during an FBI probe of devices used by former Congressman Anthony Weiner and his estranged wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

On Sunday, the FBI obtained a warrant to search the emails in relation to its investigation of the Democratic nominee's use of a private server when she served as secretary of state.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished down 8.49 points at 18,161.19, wiping out gains of about 75 points higher before the new email probe was announced. The index traded 74.71 points lower following the announcement.The S&P 500 closed 0.31 percent lower and the Nasdaq composite finished down 0.5 percent.
Down Under, the ASX 200 opened down 0.01 percent, weighed by a 1.13 percent fall in its energy subindex.

Japan's shares will also likely fall at the open. Nikkei futures in Chicago traded 0.2 percent lower at 17,390, and Osaka futures shed 0.4 percent at 17,390. The Japanese benchmark index last finished at 17,446.41.

The Bank of Japan will hold a two-day monetary policy meeting from October 31 to November 1, but most analysts don't expect any surprise moves.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, traded at 98.309 around 6:31 a.m. on Monday, after last week moving to levels as high as 98.8.

Meanwhile, the oil market was focused on Friday on the lack of concrete commitments by both Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members on a planned production cut. U.S. crude futures on Friday settled down 2.05 percent, at $48.70 a barrel, while Brent futures fell 1.5 percent to $49.71. down at $49.71.