Asian markets ended mostly lower Wednesday as banks such as National Australia Bank and DBS Group Holdings declined after financials suffered a sell-off on Wall Street, even as beaten-down Japanese lenders such as Mizuho Financial Group rebounded on bargain-buying at lower prices.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 average fell 0.44 percent to 12,346.63 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 2.4 percent to 19,999.78.
In Japan, coal product issues, as well as iron and steel companies, took a beating.
Nippon Steel Corp., the world's biggest steelmaker, fell 4.22 percent, and Nippon Oil Corp. lost 2.96 percent.
In mainland China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index inched up 0.11 percent to close at 2,145.78.
Chinese steelmakers were higher, but oil issues declines as crude prices rose in Asian trade Wednesday.
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., also known as Sinopec, Asia's biggest oil refiner by volume, lost 1.53. PetroChina Co., China's biggest oil producer, tumbled 1.67.
Elsewhere:
Australian market, the S&P/ASX 200 index shrank 1.5% to 4,905.50.
South Korea's Kospi recouped early losses to end 0.7% up at 1,464.98.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index slipped 1% to 3,343.86.
Taiwan's Taiex climbed 0.5% to 6,458.01.
Singapore's Straits Times index dropped 1.6% to 2,630.91.
Indonesia's JSX Composite tumbled 4% to 1,880.
with files from other wire services
