Asian stocks fell Wednesday, with export-related shares such as Samsung Electronics Co. weighed down by concerns over prospects for slowing global growth, while Sumitomo Metal Mining and BHP Billiton lost ground after metals prices weakened.
In Tokyo, Nikkei 225 index fell 28.14 points, or 0.16 percent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to finish at 17,732.77 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index fell 57.64 points, or 0.3 percent, to 20,578.75.
Decliners included Mitsui Fudosan Co., which fell 1.94 percent to 3,540 yen (US$29.02), and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which slipped 0.77 percent to 3,860 yen (US$31.64). Nonferrous metal shares also declined, with Mitsubishi Materials Corp. dropping 1.82 percent to 646 yen (US$5.30).
Elsewhere:
SEOUL: Seoul's Kospi index dropped 0.5% to 1,721.99.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares fell Wednesday on profit-taking ahead of the four-day Dragon Boat Festival. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange dropped 23.87 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 8346.39 points.
With files from wire services
