Asian markets seesaw on expected weak Chinese data

While markets across Europe took a break over the long Easter holiday, Asian markets fluctuated between gains and losses, weighed down by expected weak Chinese manufacturing data to be released this week.

The Hang Seng fell 0.3% overnight, forcing other Asian markets lower. Japan's Nikkei erased earlier gains, falling 0.7%, while the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.5%. China Resources Company led the Hang Seng index lower on Tuesday when it fell as much as 10%, after a local anti-corruption agency announced it is investigating the chairman of the parent company. The weak performance across Asia precedes Chinese manufacturing data due tomorrow, which is expected to show a continued slowdown in economic growth. A provisional reading by HSBC and Markit Economics suggests China's manufa...