06:52 AM EDT, 08/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were uneven Monday, as traders weighed exchange rates, central bank outlooks and the unfolding earnings season for China-based exchanges.

Hong Kong and Shanghai gained ground, while Tokyo finished in the red. Other regional exchanges were also mixed.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly but declined in the afternoon, finishing off 1.8% as a stronger yen undercut export issues. Investors awaited the signature Jackson Hole meeting of the Federal Reserve, slated for later this week, and possible clues to US central bank thinking.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 674.05 to 37,388.62 as losing issues outnumbered gainers 191 to 33.

Leading the upside was 7-11 chain owner Seven & i, gaining 22.7% after news of a buyout bid from Canada-based convenience store operator Couche-Tard. Industrial machinery maker Ebara fell 6%.

In economic news, Japan's private-sector core machinery orders rose a seasonally adjusted 2.1% in June from May, rising for the first time in three months, reported the Cabinet Office.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground on strength in property and tech issues, ahead of the China earnings season.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 139.41 to 17,569.57, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 55 to 24. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.2%.

Leading the upside was JD Health International, gaining 7.9% after reporting quarterly results, while auto-dealer Zhongsheng lost 3.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.5% to 2,893.67.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.9%; the Taiwan TWSE added 0.3%; the Australian ASX 200 rose 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index also added 0.1%, and the Thai Set gained 1.6%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was steady.

In economic news, boosted by tourism, Thailand's Q2 gross domestic product, or GDP, expanded by 2.3% on year, and rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.8% from Q1, the nation's National Economic and Social Development Council reported Monday.