US futures slip and Asian stocks are mixed, while oil prices surge more than $1 a barrel

BANGKOK -- Asian shares began the week mixed, with Tokyo’s benchmark falling nearly 2% on Monday after the release of data showing weak factory activity, while U.S. futures fell. Oil prices surged more than $1 a barrel. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 declined 1.9% to 49,285.66 after the government reported weaker than expected corporate investment data. Regional reports on manufacturing activity are being closely watched for signs of how U.S. President Donald Trump's higher tariffs are affecting Asian economies. A survey of Japanese factory managers showed activity slowing in November. The S & P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers index, or PMI, was at 48.7 last month, a slight improvement from 48.2 in October but still in contractionary territory on a scale of zero to 100 where 50 ma