Asian shares mixed in holiday-thinned trade

Asian markets were mixed in Easter holiday-hit trade on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei rallying on the back of a weaker yen as data showed the country's trade deficit quadrupled in March. Tokyo rose 0.83 per cent and Singapore added 0.24 per cent, while Shanghai was 0.53 per cent lower and Seoul eased 0.25 per cent. Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington were closed for the Easter holidays. With markets in most of Europe and the United States closed on Friday and Monday, business was thin as investors look ahead to the release this week of preliminary manufacturing data from around the world as well as US retail and house price figures, according to AFP.