Chinese exporters exhibiting their products at the country's largest trade fair said the weak global economy was hurting their businesses, with many freezing investments and some cutting labour costs in response.

Singapore's March non-oil domestic exports (NODX) shrank 8.3% year-on-year, official data showed on Monday, though the drop was smaller than the previous month and less than forecast.

China's central bank bolstered liquidity support for the economy as it rolled over maturing medium-term policy loans with higher cash offerings for the fifth month on Monday, while keeping the interest rate unchanged as expected.

Asian stocks traded cautiously on Monday as U.S. earnings season gets into full swing this week, while a raft of Chinese data will offer insight into how the world's second-largest economy is recovering.

The dollar rebounded on Monday and hit a one-month high against the yen, as resilience in core U.S. retail sales and impressive Wall Street bank earnings raised market expectations for an interest rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve in May.

China's economy is likely to grow around 5% this year, People's Bank of China Governor Yi Gang said in remarks published on Friday, in line with the government's annual target.