Asia-Pacific stocks mixed; China’s latest benchmark lending rate ahead

SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Monday morning trade, as investors look ahead to the release of China’s latest benchmark lending rate.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 0.58% in early trading while the Topix index climbed 0.45%. In South Korea, the Kospi also advanced 0.14%.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped fractionally.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.11% higher.

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Currencies

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 104.695 after a recent bounce from levels below 104.

The Japanese yen traded at 135.29 per dollar, weaker as compared to levels below 132 seen against the greenback last week. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6949 after dropping late last week from above $0.70.

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