A broad gauge of Asian share markets fell on Monday as investors consolidated gains after scaling 18-month highs last week, while oil was steady after the U.S. carried out air strikes on an Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia group in Iraq and Syria.

Around 01:45 GMT, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.09% lower. The index had touched its highest level since June 19, 2018 on Friday, lifted by investor hopes that a U.S.-China trade deal would be signed soon.

Chinese blue chips were 0.15% lower, while Australian shares shed 0.56%. Japan's Nikkei stock index slid 0.51%.Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom's plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6% and putting it on track for its strongest month since January.

Source : Reuters