06:36 AM EDT, 08/03/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets churned on Monday as traders again weighed tech-sector values and monitored efforts by Tokyo and Washington to raise the Japanese yen from four-decade lows against the US dollar.

Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the red, although Hong Kong gained ground, while other regional exchanges were choppy.

Seoul's KOSPI index declined 5% on soft semiconductor issues, as traders locked in profits after Friday's near 18% rise.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and could not recover, finishing off 0.9% as US and Japanese government agencies stepped into dollar-yen exchange markets.

The yen traded near 157 to the US dollar, after touching 164 yen last week, triggering declines in export-related shares in Tokyo, including automakers.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 607.12 to 63,754.90, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 168 to 52.

Leading the upside was Renesas Electronics, up 13.5%, while Nippon Electric Glass fell 17.5%, with both moves following earnings releases.

In economic news, Japan's final manufacturing purchasing index (PMI) logged at 54.5 in July, down from 54.8 in June, but still struck above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher and held ground, closing up 0.5% on strength in internet platform shares.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 124.97 to 26,009.40, although losing issues outnumbered gainers 61 to 30. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.2%.

Leading the upside was Xinyi Solar, gaining 13.4%, while aluminum producer XChina Hongqio declined 6.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.9% to 3,809.66.

In economic news, the RatingDog China manufacturing PMI declined to 50.9 in July from 51.7 in June, reported S&P Global.

On the other regional exchanges, the Taiwan TWSE rose 0.6%; the Australian ASX 200 advanced 0.5%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.3%, and the Thai Set declined 0.1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.8%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 0.6% on the day.