On Monday Asia Indices little bit south side from near 1-1/2 month highs as investors kept a wary eye on looming Chinese trade data on increasing signs a slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy is dragging on global growth , Of more immediate concern was trade data from China later in the day, with recent signs Asia's largest economy was losing momentum and the government planning to lower its 2019 economic growth target.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was barely changed at 490.90 points after climbing to the highest since early December on Friday.
Liquidity was expected to be light during Asian hours as Japan was on public holiday.
On the earnings front, U.S. banks are in sharp focus with quarterly results fromCitigroup due Monday followed by JPMorgan Chase , Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley later in the week.
Investor focus was also on the U.S. government shutdown, now in its 24th day, and with no resolution in sight.
Further clouding the outlook for markets, Britain faces a hugely uncertain path with a vote for a deal for its exit from the European Union due in the U.K. parliament on Tuesday.
In commodities, oil prices declined on Friday as investors worried about a global slowdown.
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