Asian shares open flat, Nikkei down 0.1%

Asian shares edged lower after reaching near one-year highs on Friday.

Investors waited to see if the Bank of Japan will come up with stimulus that would meet markets` expectations, a report by Reuters stated.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat in early trade while Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.1% and was trading at 16,411.39 points at 800 hours.

SGX Nifty also edged lower 0.02% at 8,695.00 points.

The Hang Seng index was trading down 0.49% at 22,065.84 points.

U.S. crude futures fell to a new low of $40.95 per barrel and last stood at $41.02, down 12 cents, Reuters report stated.

While international benchmark Brent crude futures was trading at $42.61 per barrel.