Tokyo — Asian shares struggled for traction on Monday after US employment data raised doubt about the strength of the global economy, while investor jitters ahead of crucial Brexit votes in the UK parliament this week weighed on the pound. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was little changed from Friday’s three-week low, with broad weakness offset by small gains in Chinese shares. China’s blue-chip CSI300 index gained 0.5% after Friday’s 4% fall, which was triggered after CITIC Securities issued a rare “sell” rating on a major insurer and by a clampdown on grey-market, margin financing. “Trading volume is surging while foreign investors have been selling late last week,” said Naoki Tashiro, president of TS China Research, adding that suggests buying by retail investors is driving Chinese shares. Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.2% after four consecutive sessions in the red last week. Wall Street’s main indices posted their biggest weekly decline since the market tumb...
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