Asian stocks ended on a mostly weaker note Thursday, as Canon Inc and other export-related shares lost ground on concerns slower economic growth in the U.S. could hamper demand for their products, though records fell in China and South Korea.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 129.65 points, or 0.73 percent, to finish at 17,540.42 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index fell 69.22 points, or 0.3 percent, to 20,380.21.
Losers included Tokyo Electron Ltd., which lost 2.17 percent, Toyota Motor Corp. shed 1.34 percent and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. posted a 2.17 percent drop.
Chinese stocks rose to a ninth straight record high Thursday with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rising 1 percent to a record close of 3,531.03. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 2.2 percent to a record 948.69.
Shares in Seoul also scored the day's best trading. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 12.19 points, or 0.81 percent, to 1,525.61.
Elsewhere:
JAKARTA: Indonesia's key share index ended slightly lower, dragged down by falls in heavyweight Telkom and nickel miner Antam. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed 0.647 points, or 0.03 percent, lower at 1,930.397.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's key stock index climbed, led by plantation stocks that have rallied higher in recent days. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips added 0.1 percent to 1,307.19 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares plunged as investors took profit for a second day, tracking heavy selling on Wall Street. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 70.99 points, or 2.2 percent, to 3,223.22.
SINGAPORE: Singaporean shares closed lower for a second session as U.S. monetary policy concerns rattled equity investors around the world. The Straits Times index lost 47.93 points, or 1.4 percent, to close at 3,372.69.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares dropped slightly amid cautious trading ahead of technology companies disclosing their first-quarter results. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange fell 9.25 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 8075.20.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks edged higher, although brokers say any near term gains are likely to be restricted by a lack of liquidity and an upward bias to the New Zealand dollar exchange rate and interest rates. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 20.7 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,168.10.
SYDNEY: Australian stocks lifted marginally after directionless trading. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 6.8 points, or 0.11 percent, to 6,158.2.
With files from wire services
