Mixed trading for Asian markets

The Asian markets have started the week on a mixed note with the Hong Kong shares coming off their early losses as coal producers advanced on high crude-oil prices and geopolitical worries in the Middle East, although local property developers fell on policy concerns. The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 75 points to 22,937.

Also, Japanese stocks started the week broadly lower, with large retailers trading down after data showed the segment's January sales fell 0.7% from a year earlier. The Nikkei Stock Average slipped 66 points 10,461.

China's Shanghai Composite Index managed to move up marginally to 2,882. Seoul Composite and Straits Times shed 1% each to 1,941 and 2,997, respectively. Taiwan Weighted is the top gainer among the Asian stocks with nearly a 7% gain at 8,600.