Asian shares were higher in subdued trading Monday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.5 percent to 20,049.67 in the morning session, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5 percent to 5,802.60. South Korea's Kospi gained 0.6 percent to 2,375.23. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.7 percent to 25,816.67, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.3 percent to 3,132.47. Benchmark U.S. crude lost 18 cents to $44.56 a barrel. It rose 28 cents to $44.74 a barrel in New York late Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, slipped 19 cents to $47.18 a barrel in London. The dollar edged down to 111.00 yen from 111.15 yen late Friday in Asia. The euro rose to $1.1198 from $1.1152.
