Asian shares skidded on Monday as investors awaited data this week that could provide more evidence of a slowdown in China, while the dollar gave back a little of its recent gains. China’s flash manufacturing PMI reading on Tuesday could come in below the 50 level, indicating that manufacturing activity is contracting. “The psychological effect of a below-50 reading will be significant and consistent with the slew of softer Chinese data over recent weeks.” Mitul Kotecha, head of FX strategy Asia-Pacific for Barclays in Singapore, said in a note to clients.