Shares were mixed in Asia, AP reported. Japan's Nikkei 225 index advanced 0.6 percent to 19,431.66, helped by a weaker yen, which boosts profits for manufacturers. South Korea's Kospi jumped 0.9 percent to 2,224.81. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged a fraction of 0.1 percent lower to 24,606.76 and the Shanghai Composite index gave up 0.3 percent to 3,144.62. Australia's S&P ASX 200 fell 0.3 percent to 5,940.60, while shares were higher in Southeast Asia. Benchmark U.S. crude shed 19 cents to $48.65 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 49 cents, or 1 percent, to $48.84 a barrel on Monday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, slipped 13 cents to $51.39 a barrel. It declined 53 cents, or 1 percent, to $51.52 a barrel in London. The dollar rose to 111.99 yen from 111.84 yen. The euro advanced to $1.0921 from $1.0898.
