Asian stocks swung between gains and losses after the yuan posted its steepest one-day loss against the dollar. The regional equity benchmark is on course for its first monthly advance since October.

Nikkei 225 14,841.07 -82.04 -0.55%

S&P/ASX 200 5,404.82 -6.63 -0.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,056.3 +8.95 +0.44%

Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. slipped 1.2 percent as the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland firms listed in Hong Kong fell 0.7 percent.

James Hardie Industries Plc  surged 6.1 percent after the Australian provider of building materials said profit jumped last quarter.

Foster Electric Co. tumbled 12 percent, the largest decline on Japan’s Topix index, as the maker of audio equipment cut its forecast.