Asian shares mixed, investors wait after US shut for holiday

TOKYO – Asian shares were mixed Tuesday amid a wait-and-see mood for more signs on the effects of Britain’s future outside the European Union, and a U.S. holiday overnight kept trading volumes thin.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.7 per cent to finish at 15,669.33, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.3 per cent to 1,989.85. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped nearly 0.8 per cent to 20,901.52, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.7 per cent to 3,009.07.

EUROPE AND WALL STREET: Germany’s DAX fell 0.7 per cent to close at 9,709.09 and France’s CAC 40 shed 0.9 per cent to 4,234.86. Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.8 per cent to 6,522.26. Wall Street was closed Monday for the Fourth of July holiday.

THE QUOTE: “The Bank of England will be publishing its Financial Stability Report,” later in the global day, said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG in Singapore. “Markets might be looking for more reassurances and clarifications over the bank’s position with regards to the UK referendum.”

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude shed 79 cents to $48.20 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, dropped 47 cents to $49.63 in London.

CURRENCY: The dollar edged down to 101.96 yen from 102.51 yen late Monday in Asia. The euro fell to $1.1127 from $1.1146.