Asian markets were mostly lower in cautious trading Monday ahead of a federal holiday in the U.S, the Associated Press reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 1.7% in morning trading to 25,534.68. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.7% to 6,432.00. South Korea's Kospi dropped 2.1% to 2,389.69. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.2% to 21,109.16, while the Shanghai Composite was little changed, inching up less than 0.1% to 3,317.69. The U.S. dollar was trading at 134.88 Japanese yen early Monday, down from 134.96 yen. The euro cost $1.0526, up from $1.0498. In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude lost 36 cents to $109.20 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 42 cents to $112.70 a barrel.
