The euro started the week on the front foot after conservatives won a closely watched election in Germany, with leader Friedrich Merz urging the speedy formation of a new coalition government.

After a healthy performance on Friday, Asian investors struggled to maintain momentum after big losses in New York, where the Nasdaq lost more than two percent.

The selling came after a report showed activity in the key services sector hit a 25-month low in February, while separate data indicated consumer sentiment dived almost 10 percent from January.

Meanwhile, another study revealed that expectations for inflation hit a three-decade high.

The readings follow a recent run of figures pointing to a softening of the labour market and prices continuing to rise faster than the Federal Reserve's target rate.

There have been increasing fears since Donald Trump regained the US presidency that his plans to impose import tariffs, and slash taxes, immigration and regulations would reignite inflation.

That has led investors to scale back their expectations for how many interest rate cuts the Fed will make this year.

Hong Kong advanced in Asian trade, building on Friday's blockbuster rally fuelled by tech firms, particularly an eye-watering rise of more than 14 percent in ecommerce titan Alibaba.

Sydney and Singapore also edged up but the rest of the region struggled.

Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington were all in the red.

The euro got a lift from news that Merz's CDU/CSU alliance won more than 28 percent, according to projections, crushing the Social Democrats (SPD) of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which came third.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came second, almost doubling its score to more than 20 percent.

Merz said he wanted to quickly form a government, warning that as Trump is driving rapid and disruptive changes, "the world isn't waiting for us".

"Markets will like that, presuming it is achieved," said National Australia Bank's senior forex analyst Rodrigo Catril.

Oil prices extended losses after dropping as much as three percent on Friday as the weak US data sparked demand fears, while there are also growing expectations Trump will ease the sanctions that have limited Russian oil exports.

- Key figures around 0700 GMT -

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 23,522.37

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,373.03 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0508 from $1.0462 on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2666 from $1.2628

Dollar/yen: UP at 149.45 from 149.32 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 82.97 pence from 82.81 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2 percent at $70.28 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.1 percent at $73.97 per barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 1.7 percent at 43,428.02 (close)

London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 8,659.37 (close)

dan/mtp

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NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK

INDEX CORP.

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