Stocks across Asia fell Monday as pressures from elsewhere in the world, including a breakdown of Greek bailout talks and uncertainty ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, weighed on markets from Hong Kong to Japan.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 19.29 points, or 0.1%, to 20,387.79, its seventh loss in 10 days.
The Bank of Japan meets for its own summit on June 18-19.
Australian stocks recouped steep early losses to close down Monday after beaten-down banks were snapped up for their dividends, offsetting weakness in the energy sector.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index plummeted 418.73 points, or 1.5%, to 26,861.81,
Talks between Greece and its European creditors collapsed over the weekend, heightening worries about the country’s possible exit from the euro currency bloc. Investors also have an eye on a two-day policy meeting by Fed officials starting Tuesday, although rate increases aren’t expected until a meeting in September.
CHINA
The Shanghai CSI 300 dofffed 113.09 points, or 2.1%, to 5,222.03
In China, investors were factoring in Beijing’s ruling Friday on margin financing, a practice that has driven the Shanghai index up nearly 60% this year. The benchmark finished down 2% at 5062.99 Monday.
Domestic shares of Haitong Securities Co. Ltd., and Citic Securities Co. Ltd. were down 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index docked 9.85 points, or 0.5%, to 2,042.32
In Taiwan, the Taiex was battered 42.45 points, or 0.5%, to 9,259.48
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 30.72 points, or 0.9%, to 3,323.13
The NZX 50 fell 27 points, or 0.5%, to 5,819.97
The ASX 200 Index dropped 6.48 points, or 0.1%, to 5,538.77.
