Asian share markets closed lower Thursday, with investors cautious ahead of a European Central Bank decision and a summit to tackle the euro-zone debt crisis.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index slipped 57.59 points, or 0.7%, to 8,664.58
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index shrank 132.77 points, or 0.7%, to 19,107.80
One expert cited a European monetary-policy decision due later in the day, along with the summit of European Union leaders Friday.
In Hong Kong, jitters about Chinese growth ahead of the Friday data -- which are also scheduled to include industrial output and retail sales -- hurt some shares with large exposure to the mainland China market.
Tsingtao Brewery Co. lost 3.2%, Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd. fell 2%, and Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. gave up 1.6%.
Li & Fung Ltd. dropped 5% after Singaporean wealth fund Temasek Holdings Ltd. said it would sell bonds exchangeable for Li & Fung shares it holds.
In Japan, exporters lost ground as the U.S. dollar weakened against the yen, with auto maker Honda Motor Co. losing 1.8%, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. trading down 3.2%.
Downbeat economic data also weighed on Japanese shares, as core machinery orders -- seen as a leading indicator of capital spending in Japan -- fell a larger-than-expected 6.9% in October.
In Seoul, many globally exposed Korean blue chips saw losses, with LG Display Co. dropping 5.1%, while Hynix Semiconductor Inc. falling 1.6%.
Energy-sector stocks were weak in Australia, with Woodside Petroleum Ltd. down 2.3%, and Santos Ltd. lower by 3.9%.
Selected retailers were also under pressure in Sydney, with department-store operator David Jones Ltd. down 3.5%, and Harvey Norman Ltd. falling 1.9%.
In other markets;
Shanghai’s CSI 300 index hunched down 3.23 points, or 0.1%, to 2,525
Taiwan’s Taiex Index gave back 50.10 points, or 0.7%, to 6,982.90
Korea’s Kospi Index dropped 7.03 points, or 0.4%, to 1,912.39
Singapore’s Straits Times Index subtracted 54.24 points, or 2%, to 2,728.31
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index slid 13.10 points, or 0.4%, to 3,269.95
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index settled 11.80 points, or 0.3%, to 4,280.70
