Stocks in Mainland China led losses among the region's top markets as they closed lower, with the Shenzhen component falling 3.072% to 15,336.05 and the Shanghai compound 1.45% lower at 3,642.44. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.89% in its last trading hour.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 surpassed the general trend, rising 0.46% to close at 30,156.03, while the Topix index closed its trading day 0.49% higher at 1,938.35. South Korea's Kospi closed 0.9% lower at 3,079.75.
Meanwhile, the S & P / ASX 200 in Australia ended its trading day down 0.19% at 6,780.90.
MSCI's broader Asia-Pacific stock index outside of Japan was 0.96% lower.
China kept the one-year loan prime rate (LPR) unchanged at 3.85%. The five-year LPR was also stable at 4.65%. The LPR is a benchmark rate for loans set monthly by 18 banks.
The Australian dollar changed at $ 0.7868 after a jump late last week from around $ 0.776. Previously, the coin had risen to $ 0.7908, its highest since early 2018.
The US dollar index was at 90.359 after a recent drop above 90.9.
The Japanese yen was trading at 105.69 per dollar, stronger than the levels above 106 against the dollar seen in the middle of last week.
Oil prices rose late afternoon Asian business hours, and international benchmark Brent crude futures rose 1.21% to $ 63.67 a barrel. US crude futures also rose 1.2% to $ 59.96 a barrel.
