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Hong Kong - Asian markets were mixed on Monday as better-than-expected US jobs figures were offset by caution ahead of this week's US presidential election and the start of China's leadership transition.
The dollar remained elevated against the yen and euro after Friday's employment numbers, but that was unable to support Japan's Nikkei, which also saw profit-taking after last week's healthy gains.
Tokyo fell 0.23%, Hong Kong lost 0.20%, Shanghai was flat, Sydney was up 0.10% and Seoul was 0.29% lower.
Traders were given a bright lead after the US Labour Department said on Friday that the economy created 171,000 jobs in October, far more than the expected 125 000.
And while the jobless rate rose to 7.9% from 7.8%, that was blamed on more people entering the market.
The encouraging report provided a final snapshot of a slowly improving economy as President Barack Obama battles for re-election Tuesday in a tight race against Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the Wall Street favourite.
US stocks jumped in early trade but ended in the red by the end of trade Friday. The Dow finished down 1.05%, the S&P 500 fell 0.94% and the Nasdaq lost 1.26%.
The jobs data also lifted the dollar, sending it to a six-month high of ¥80.68 in New York, before easing to end on Friday at ¥80.47.
In early Asian trade the greenback bought ¥80.45.
The euro bought $1.2831 and ¥103.25, down from $1.2835 and ¥103.30.
Eyes are on the world's two biggest economies this week, with the US presidential election too close to call, while Beijing is expected to anoint its successor to President Hu Jintao.
"The US data (released Friday) were generally positive, but markets are apprehensive ahead of the hotly contested US presidential vote" on Tuesday, said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of equities at SMBC Nikko Securities.
Oil prices were mixed, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, gaining a cent to $84.87 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for December delivery fell 12 cents to $105.56.
Gold was at $1 679.90 at 02:05 GMT compared with $1 708.90 late on Friday.
