Asian shares slip amid pandemic and Afghanistan worries

A pedestrian walks past a stock indicator displaying the Nikkei 225 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and other world stock markets in Tokyo on Monday, August 16, 2021. - AFP

TOKYO, Aug 16 (AP): Asian shares slipped Monday, amid worries about surging coronavirus infections in the region, as well as concerns about the long-term impact from the Afghan government’s collapse.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 sagged 1.7% to 27,502.21 in afternoon trading, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.5% to 7,591.70. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dipped 1.2% to 26,087.92, while the Shanghai Composite was little changed, inching up less than 0.1% to 3,518.09. South Korean markets were closed for Liberation Day, a national holiday.