06:38 AM EDT, 07/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were muted on Monday, as investors awaited outcomes of US trade negotiations with Asian nations.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the red, while Shanghai was flat. Other regional exchanges were similarly mixed.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 finished off 0.6%, as traders awaited clarity on Japan-US trade relations.

Japan may face higher tariffs on imports into the US unless a deal is struck by a July 9 deadline, according to statements from the Trump Administration.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 223.20 to 39,587.68, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 165 to 55.

Leading the upside was household goods retailer Ryohin Keikaku, up 4%, while industrial robot maker Yaskawa Electric declined 10.3%.

In economic news, real wages in Japan in May fell 2.9% on the year, the fifth straight decline, reported the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW).

There were 124 job openings for every 100 job hunters in May, added the MHLW.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed down 0.1%, as investors weighed global trade tensions.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 28.23 to 23,887.83, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 49 to 28. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.2% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.9%.

Leading the upside was gaming house Sands China, gaining 3.9%, while Wuxi Biologics declined 4.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was steady at 3,473.13.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.2%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.5%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.2%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.4%, and the Thai Set advanced 0.3%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was flat.