Russia-Ukraine tensions hit Asian shares

Asian markets mostly fell on Monday as growing fears of a conflict between Ukraine and Russia sent traders scurrying for safer assets, with the yen surging and oil prices also seeing big gains. The downbeat atmosphere was compounded in some markets by another disappointing set of manufacturing figures from China that added to concerns about growth in the world's number two economy. Tokyo shed 1.27 percent, or 188.84 points, to 14,652.23, Sydney fell 0.38 percent, or 20.5 points, to 5,384.3 and Seoul lost 0.77 percent, or 15.30 points, to end at 1,964.69. Hong Kong tumbled 1.47 percent, or 336.29 points to 22,500.67. However, Shanghai rose 0.92 percent, or 18.93 points, to 2,075.23 as investors brushed off the weak manufacturing figures ahead of Beijing's annual policy gathering later in the week. Atsushi Hirano, head of FX sales Japan at Royal Bank of Scotland, told Dow Jones Newswires: "Tensions have risen with the United States. Stocks are likely to be negatively affected," according to AFP.