World markets were mostly down on Monday with material companies leading declines after BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group dissolved a joint venture and commodity prices continued to retreat.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed down 1.76 points, or .02%, to 9,498.49.
The Japanese Department Stores Association announced on Monday that department store sales fell in September for the 31st month in a row. Sales data showed a slide of 5.2% as compared to a year ago to 446.3 billion yen.
Good Earnings – Chemical company, Asahi Kasei Corp. increased 2.4% to 479 yen due to preliminary earnings report that showed substantial gains as a result of an early dividend payment to the Company.
Buy Back – Electric components maker, Chiyoda Integre Co., climbed 9.9% to 986 yen upon announcing that it will spend as much as 450 million yen to buy back up to 2.12% of its outstanding shares.
Mazda Motor Corp. slipped 0.9% in Tokyo after Nikkei English News reported Ford Motor Co. may lower its stake in the company.
In China, losers outnumbered gainers by 530 to 368 in Shanghai and 772 to 391 in Shenzhen.
The Shanghai Composite closed down 15.93 points, or 054%, to 2,955.23.
The Xinjiang Guannong Fruit and Antler Co. Ltd. dropped by the daily limit of 10% to 27.85 yuan per share.
The Xinjiang Sayram Modern Agriculture Co. Ltd. tested the daily limit as well as shares fell 9.9%.
Brokerages Winners -- Industrial Securities Co. Ltd. rose by 10% to 19.79 yuan.
The Sinolink Securities Co. Ltd. gained 8.36%.
The Hang Seng fell; dropping 288.25 points to close at 23,469.38.
Cnooc Ltd., China’s biggest offshore oil producer, dropped 1.5% as crude oil fell in New York.
Zijin Mining Group Co., China’s largest gold producer, fell 4.7% to HK$7.46 after announcing that it faces legal claims in connection with a dam collapse at a mine.
Elsewhere, the smaller markets were primarily down:
South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.41% to 1,875.42.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed down by .791% to 4,651.900.
India's Sensex gained .22%.
Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 9.16 points to 1,480.70.
Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index fell 30.11 points.
Shenzhen Composite closed red; down 1.356% to 1,196.226.
Taiwan's Taiex gave back 144.76 points.
Singapore's Straits Times Index lost .72%.
New Zealand's NZX 50 moved up by .20%.
Philippine shares were down by.402%.
Shares in Thailand closed down by .029%.
