Asian shares mixed as markets eye Ukraine, inflation worries

Asian shares are mixed as worries about the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine weigh on market sentiment

TOKYO -- Asian shares were mixed on Monday as worries about the pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine weighed on market sentiment.

Benchmarks in Hong Kong and Sydney gained while Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai declined.

Adding to concern over the economic impact from the pandemic, Shanghai went into a nine-day semi-lockdown. With China’s economic growth already slowing, the extreme measure could worsen unemployment, sap consumer demand and further complicate already snarled global supply chains.

The Shanghai Composite index edged 0.1% lower to 3,208.12.