This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of a rate decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was trading down 1.1% ahead of an RBA meeting, where the central bank is expected to hold rates at 4.10%, according to a Reuters poll.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.63% in its first hour of trade. The Topix is down 0.6%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index look tipped to fall after coming back on from a National Day holiday on Monday, with futures at 17,768 compared to the HSI’s Friday close of 17,809.66.
South Korean and Chinese markets are closed for holidays.
Overnight in the U.S., all three major indexes traded mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 74.15 points, or 0.22%, to 33,433.35. The S&P 500 inched higher by 0.01% to close at 4,288.39. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.67% to close at 13,307.77
— CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Alex Harring contributed to this report.
World Bank says sustained growth, but slowing momentum in the Asia Pacific region
The World Bank forecasts growth in in the developing East Asia and Pacific region to remain strong at 5% in 2023. However, its expects growth to ease in the second half of 2023 and fall to 4.5% in 2024, according to its regional update published on Sunday.
Regional growth in the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to come in higher than average growth projected for all other emerging market and developing economies. To be sure, the recent numbers are lower than were previously projected.
Growth in China in 2023 is projected to be 5.1%. Excluding China, regional growth is expected to come in at 4.6% .
— Hakyung Kim
Bitcoin rises to highest level since August
Crypto prices rallied on Monday, pushing bitcoin to its highest level more than six weeks.
Bitcoin rose more than 4.5% to $28,329, for its highest level since Aug. 17, when it traded as high as 29,108.3. Ether rose more than 3% to cross above $1,700.
Crypto-related stocks Coinbase, Marathon Digital, MicroStrategy and Riot all rose more than 5% in premarket trading.
— Hakyung Kim, Jesse Pound, Gina Francolla
Gold and silver drop to lowest price since March in early trading
December gold futures contracts fell to $1846.60 the ounce Monday, the lowest since March 10, 2023 (when it traded at $1830).
December silver contracts similarly dropped to $21.725 the ounce, their weakest since March 16 ($21.59).
Both the Gold Miners (GDX) and Silver Miners (SIL) ETFs are down almost 1% in early, premarket trading, led by Harmony Gold, Gold Fields and AngloGold, all down by 3% or more.
— Scott Schnipper, Gina Francolla
Read More: Asia-Pacific stocks fall ahead of Australian central bank rate decision – NBC10