Asian markets start the week lower

ASIAN benchmarks, including Singapore's, got the week started in negative territory. The Straits Times Index (STI) ended Monday's session at 3,346.39, down 17.4 points or 0.5 per cent.

Weak sentiment reigned thanks to a combination of escalating protests in Hong Kong, low expectations from the upcoming US-China trade talks and economic growth prospects.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific, stocks fell in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. Australia bucked the trend, up 0.5 per cent as tech and financial plays lifted the ASX 200.