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Hong Kong - Asian stock markets mostly lost ground in morning trade Monday, with investors little moved by the G20's commitment at the weekend to boost global growth by $2trn over five years.
After a weak lead from Wall Street, markets were looking to a string of US data in the week ahead for clues about the health of the world's largest economy, with figures due out on housing, consumer confidence and GDP growth.
In Tokyo the benchmark Nikkei-225 index was flat, edging up 0.1% on thin trade by mid-morning, while the yen remained relatively low, boosting Japanese exporters. Seoul lost 0.43% and Sydney nudged down 0.15%.
Hong Kong shares vaulted lower, falling 1.15% by mid-morning, while Shanghai tumbled 2.45% on reports of curbs to property lending on the Chinese mainland.
The world's biggest economies vowed Sunday to boost global growth by more than $2trn over five years, shifting their focus away from austerity as a fragile recovery takes hold.
The G20 members, who account for 85% of the world's economy, said they aim to lift their collective GDP by more than two percentage points over the next five years.
However, investors appeared to be focusing more on the forthcoming US figures, as analysts suggested the data may disappoint.
US February consumer confidence figures are due to be released on Tuesday, followed by data showing durable goods orders and initial jobless claims on Thursday. On Friday, the final estimate for fourth-quarter US gross domestic product is out.
"It is possible that data to be released this week could come out lower than expected. Caution is needed over continued worries about the possibility of a US slowdown," Tsuyoshi Nomaguchi, a senior strategist at Daiwa Securities, said in a note to clients.
Nomaguchi said the US market could receive support from investors hopeful that weak data could encourage the US Federal Reserve to continue its zero interest rate policy.
Japan will also publish a string of other data, including key inflation figures, on Friday.
US stocks finished the week with modest declines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 29.93 points (0.19%) to 16 103 on Friday.
The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 0.19% or 3.53 points to 1 836, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.10% or 4.13 points to 4 263.
Sales of used homes fell 5.1% in January to an annual pace of 4.62 million units, down from the rate of 4.87 million in December, according to the National Association of Realtors.
The dollar stood at ¥102.38, down from ¥102.49 in New York Friday, while the euro was at $1.3733 and ¥140.59, compared with $1.3734 and ¥141.00.
Oil prices rose in Asia, extending gains made last week on keen US demand and geopolitical worries.
New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery, gained 28 cents to $102.48, while Brent North Sea crude for April rose 17 cents to $110.02.
Gold fetched $1 329,40 an ounce at 02:50 GMT, after striking $1 332.45 late Friday - the highest point since October 31 -- driven by strong Asian demand.
