Japanese shares ended sharply lower Monday, with the Nikkei Average plunging to its lowest level in eight weeks, as investors dumped exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp. and financial stocks such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group amid a lack of positive data to spur new buying.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index shed 365.79 points, or 2.27 percent, to finish at 15,725.94 while the Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 228 points, or 1.19 percent, to close at 18,954.63.
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. posted a 3.06 percent decline to 823,000 yen (US$6,974.58), Matsui Securities Co. dropped 8.42 percent to 772 yen (US$6.54), and personal lender Promise Co. fell 6.15 percent to 3,660 yen (US$31.04).
Oil company Inpex Holdings Inc. shed 3.43 percent to 902,000 yen (US$7,644.07) and machinery maker Ebara Corp. sank 3.74 percent to 412 yen (US$3.49).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares ended lower. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index dipped 7.55 points, or 1.03 percent, to close 726.37.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares climbed to a fresh record high on foreign buying in telecommunication and automotive blue chips. The Jakarta Stock Exchange main index closed 0.2 percent up previous close to end at 1,684.006.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's benchmark stock index fell as investors took profits after recent widespread gains. The Composite Index of 100 blue chips reduced 0.7 percent to 1,033.52 points on heavy trading.
MANILA: Philippine shares edged up slightly with the main index settling at a new nine-year high. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index was up 0.77 point, or 0.03 percent, at 2,843.31.
MUMBAI: Indian stocks were flat with some dealers expecting the market to rise in volatile trade. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-stock Sensex ended up 1.23 points, or 0.01 percent, at 13,430.71.
SEOUL: South Korean stocks ended lower following a sharp drop in the Japanese market. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, Kospi, dropped 10.01 points, or 0.71 percent, to 1,402.21.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares rose to another five-year high, with a stronger currency boosting banks and a slump in crude prices driving up heavyweight refiner Sinopec. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index tipped upward 2.3 percent to 2,017.28, its highest closing level since July 27, 2001, when shares ended at 2,065.72. It was the fifth consecutive session of gains in the index. The Shenzhen Composite Index edged up 0.5 percent to 455.39 in trading on China's second exchange.
SINGAPORE: Shares in Singapore closed lower with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) dipping 41.8 points, or 1.48 percent, to end at 2,771.4 points.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares ended flat, weighed down by weakness in Asian bourses despite support in the tech sector, traders said. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 1.94 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 7261.48 points.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were lower, drifting into negative territory late in the session as investors focused on the Australian government's sale of its stake in telecommunications company Telstra rather than local stocks. The benchmark NZX-50 index slipped 7 points, or 0.2 percent, to 3809.20.
SYDNEY: Australian shares dropped with most sectors returning weak performances. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index lost 97.3 points, or 1.8 percent, to 5,322.4.
With files from wire services
