Asian shares eke out gains, dollar holds firm (Update)

SYDNEY: Asian stocks eased on Monday in sluggish trade as investors chose discretion over valour ahead of central bank meetings in Europe and the always-critical U.S. payrolls report.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS> was just a shade softer at 478.58. Australian shares <.AXJO> ended 0.4 percent lower while South Korea <.KS11> lost 0.6 percent. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday.