Asian markets were mixed in subdued trading Monday

Asian markets were mixed in subdued trading Monday, ahead of a meeting by the U.S. Federal Reserve later in the week.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 NIK, +0.17% was flat while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index HSI, 0.10% rose 0.5%. The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, -1.22% sank 0.6% and South Korea’s Kospi 180721, -0.28% slipped 0.3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.09% was little changed, while stocks in Taiwan Y9999, -0.04%, Singapore STI, 0.11%, Malaysia FBMKLCI, 0.50% and Indonesia JAKIDX, -0.36% were a mixed bag.

In Tokyo, shares of Rakuten 4755, +24.10% jumped 20% after the e-commerce company announced Friday it will issue $2.2 billion in new stock.

The Fed is set to meet this week, with Chairman Jerome Powell expected to announce a patient, unchanged monetary policy on Wednesday.

Benchmark U.S. crude CLJ21, 0.82% inched higher to $66.15 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude BRNK21, 0.74%, the international standard for pricing, rose to $69.73 per barrel.

The U.S. dollar USDJPY, 0.19% rose slightly to 109.15 Japanese yen.

source:marketwatch.com