Asian stocks open mixed in first session of the week

Asian stocks opened the first session of the week with a mixed performance on Monday, as the Chinese stocks, the Australian and New Zealand stocks fell, while the Japanese, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index and the South Korean Kospi index rose, with the Brexit file developments and updates in focus, in addition to Chinese Vice Premier Liu He's remarks.

The British Parliament voted on Saturday postponing a decision on the draft Brexit deal reached by the British PM Boris Johnson with the EU for an orderly exit, to delay the "meaningful votes" on the exit deal until the government has got its deal through parliament, which forced the British PM to request  a deadline extension for Brexit from Brussels after the end of this month.

Keeping in mind that the EU leaders do not necessarily have to approve a Brexit deadline extension again, while the markets are anticipating the British government to offer a final Brexit draft to pass its deal with Brussels in the British Parliament later this week, as focus is now at the next British lawmakers crucial vote.

Otherwise, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said the US and China have made "significant progress" in the trade talks, after the interim trade deal reached earlier this month, and added that both countries are working on the agreement text to sign it, which will work as a cornerstone in ending the long-running trade war.

The Japanese stocks were higher today, as Topix rose by 0.84% or 7.74 points to 1,629.73 points, and Nikkei 225 gained 0.28% or 62.66 points to 22,555.34.

While the Chinese stocks saw mixed performance during sessions, as the CSI 300 index gained 0.31% or 12.07 points to 3,881.45, but the Shanghai Composite index fell by 0.08% or 2.22 points to 2,935.92.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.32% or 84.60 points to 26,804.18, and the South Korean Kospi rose by 0.18% or 3.72 points to 2,064.41.

To New Zealand's NZX 50, which fell by 0.12% or 13.21 points to 11,053.91, and the Australian S&P/ASX 200 fell by 0.11% or 7.48 points to 6,642.20.