Asian markets are set for a lower opening

Futures pointed a lower open for Japanese equities. Nikkei futures traded in Chicago were off 0.27 percent and Osaka futures were down . Both were lower than the Nikkei 225's Friday close of 20,118.86.

Australian SPI futures were down 1.09 percent at 5,693 compared to the benchmark index's Monday close of 5,755.47.

Stateside, stocks closed mostly flat as the markets anticipated earnings reports due later in the week. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 0.04 percent, the S&P 500 closed off by 0.01 percent and the Nasdaq edged up 0.03 percent.

Mainland markets stumbled on Monday despite the release of positive Chinese economic data, with analysts attributing dampened market sentiment to a financial policy meeting that took place at the weekend. The Shanghai Composite ended the session down 1.42 percent and the Shenzhen Composite fell 4.278 percent Monday.

In energy news, oil prices settled lower by around 1 percent overnight. Brent crude declined 1 percent to settle at $48.82 a barrel and U.S. crude fell 1.1 percent to settle at $46.02.

The dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, traded at 95.150. This was a touch higher compared to the previous close of 95.066.

Source: Bloomberg Pro Terminal

Trader Bozhidar Arabadzhiev

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