06:39 AM EDT, 03/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets churned on Monday, as traders weighed global trade issues, geopolitics, and awaited fresh catalysts.

Hong Kong and Shanghai finished in the green, while Tokyo lagged. Other regional exchanges were also uneven.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly but waffled lower, finishing off 0.2% as traders looked for clarity on Trump Administration tariffs regarding Japan.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 68.57 to 37,608.49, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 145 to 75.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Realty & Development, up 10.5%, while industrial robot-maker Yaskawa Electric declined 3.6%.

In economic news, Japan's flash composite purchasing managers index (PMI), a combination of the nation's manufacturing and services industries, fell to 48.5 in March from 52.0 in February, slipping below the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly but finished up 0.9% on a late afternoon rally, on gains in tech, home appliance and gold stocks.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 215.84 to 23,905.56, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 41 to 38. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.7% on the day, but the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.1%.

Leading the upside was Haier Smart Home, gaining 6%, while New Oriental Education and Technology declined 7.2%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2 % to 3,370.03.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.4%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.5%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.3%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.3%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.4%.

In other economic news, India's flash composite PMI, logged at 58.6 in March, down modestly from 58.8 in February, but still well above the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.