Asian stocks taking small steps as sell-off eases

• Risk appetite sees a hopeful start to the trading week.
• Asian equities are overall up on the day, with a few dark spots continuing to get dragged down by investor fears.

Asian equities are seeing limited gains heading through Monday's early trading session, though weakness prevails in emerging markets, while Chinese stocks remain tepid amidst ever-present trade war fears.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index is up 0.70% for Monday as investors in the Pacific-Asia session begin to reverse recent risk-off market flows, while Tokyo's Topix index sees limited gains at 0.25% for the day. Chinese securities continue to mix on the day, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index up 0.10% and Shanghai's CSI 300 down -0.25% as Chinese traders remain off-balance amidst trade tensions and global fears of a largescale economic slowdown.

Australia's ASX 200 index is enjoying a reprieve from selling pressure, climbing 1.00% for Monday, while emerging markets remain weak and exposed to broader selling pressure, with the MSCI broad Asia-Pacific index in the red for -1.40%.

Nikkei 225 levels to watch