HONG KONG - Asian equities were mixed on Monday with investors awaiting the release of key US data that could play a role in Federal Reserve deliberations ahead of an expected interest rate cut next week.
After November's end-of-month rebound across world markets, confidence remains high amid speculation the US central bank could continue easing monetary policy into the new year.
That has helped overcome lingering worries about an AI-fuelled tech bubble that some observers warn could pop and lead to a painful correction.
While the odds on a third successive rate reduction on December 10 are hovering around 90 percent, traders will keep a close eye on this week's batch of indicators to gauge the Fed's desire to keep on cutting.
Among the reports due for release are private jobs creation, services activity and personal consumption expenditure -- the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation.
Bets on a cut surged in late November after several of the bank's policymakers said they backed lower borrowing costs as they were more concerned about the flagging labour market than stubbornly high inflation.
That helped markets recover the losses sustained in the first half of the month, and analysts said they could be in store for an end-of-year rally.
Meanwhile, reports that Trump's top economic adviser Kevin Hassett -- a proponent of rate cuts -- is the frontrunner to take the helm at the Fed next year added to the upbeat mood.
After last week's healthy gains and Wall Street's strong Thanksgiving rally, Asian equities were mixed.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Manila rose, but Sydney, Seoul, Wellington and Taipei dipped.
Tokyo sank more than one percent as the yen strengthened on expectations the Bank of Japan will lift interest rates this month.