Stock market today: Asian shares trade mixed after Wall Street closes near record finish [Video]

TOKYO – Asian shares were trading mixed on Monday, as investors awaited further indications the Federal Reserve might begin cutting interest rates.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 0.7% to 40,619.40, as investors sold shares to lock in profits after the benchmark recently hit record highs.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.5% to 16,584.22, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.4% to 3,061.36.

The Chinese yuan, or renminbi, fell to a four-month low of 7.2282 to the U.S. dollar.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6% to 7,813.70. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.5% to 2,735.46.

A top Japanese finance official expressed reservations about the recent surge in the U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen, fueling speculation about possible intervention in the market. The dollar has risen to nearly 152 yen, a jump from slightly above 130 yen a year ago. It was trading at 151.13 yen on Monday, up from 151.41 yen. The euro cost $1.0814, …