The Dollar Index Was High, Japan's Nikkei Dropped

The dollar index was up 0.1 percent from the earlier low. Investigations into alleged Russian meddling in last year's U.S. presidential election are seen as potential roadblocks to President Donald Trump being able to implement his economic agenda. 

Speculative investors turned negative on the dollar last week for the first time in more than a year, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday.

Earlier, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan reversed earlier losses to edge up 0.3 percent. 

But Japan's Nikkei dropped 0.6 percent, pressured by a stronger yen. Australian shares retreated 0.7 percent and South Korea's KOSPI edged down 0.1 percent. 

Chinese bluechips closed up 0.4 percent and close to 18-month highs as institutional investors stepped up purchases of big companies' shares. 

Oil prices dipped, adding to Friday's 2.5 percent fall, before a meeting of OPEC nations and other producers. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was down 12 cents at $47.94 a barrel. 

Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other non-OPEC producers will meet in St Petersburg to review market conditions and examine any proposals related to their pact to cut output. 

Sources familiar with the talks said the meeting may recommend a conditional cap on production from Nigeria and Libya - two OPEC members so far exempt from output cuts - although some analysts were sceptical the group would make such a move. 

The relatively weak dollar helped push copper close to its highest since March. The metal last traded 0.1 percent lower on the day at $6,003 a tonne. 

Gold hit its highest in four weeks and last stood at $1,254 an ounce, down 0.1 percent on the day.