Asia shares lackluster despite upbeat data, as caution reigns following euphoric 2nd quarter

Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday as investors shrugged off signs that Chinese manufacturing is regaining momentum.

Mainland China's key benchmark, the Shanghai Composite Index, was virtually unchanged at 2,048.33 after a monthly survey of purchasing managers by HSBC showed manufacturing grew in June for the first time in six months, though the expansion was weak.

The rate of improvement was "only slight and weaker than the historical average," HSBC said.

Markets in Hong Kong were closed for a public holiday.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index gained 1.1 percent to 15,329.06 after the central bank released a survey showing better-than-expected business sentiment despite a decline in the April-June quarter.

But South Korea's Kospi fell 0.3 percent to 1,997.22. Shares in Australia, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia also fell, while those in Taiwan and New Zealand gained.

On Wall Street, the Standard & Poor's 500 edged 0.1 percent lower to close Monday at 1,960.23, just below its record 1,962.87 close set on June 20.

The Dow Jones industrial average 0.2 percent to 16,826.60 on Monday, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.2 percent to 4,408.18. It rose 5 percent in the quarter.

In Europe, Britain's FTSE closed down 0.2 percent at 6,743.94 after a report showed inflation in the eurozone was an anemic 0.5 percent. France's CAC 40 shed 0.3 percent to 4,422.84 while Germany's DAX added 0.2 percent to 9,833.07.

Trading was in a narrow range ahead of monthly U.S. employment figures due Thursday. The European Central Bank will also hold its monthly rate-setting meeting Thursday. It is expected to keep its policies unchanged following aggressive steps last month.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude for August delivery was up 25 cents to $105.63 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 37 cents on Monday.

In currencies, the dollar rose to 101.63 yen from 101.32 yen late Monday. The euro slipped to $1.3682 from $1.3693.