International Shia News Agency

Asian shares broadly lower after Wall St sell-off

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)

Asian markets mostly fell as traders followed heavy losses on Wall Street, while the dollar bounced back against the yen after tumbling in New York.

Tokyo sank 0.88 percent, or 144.28 points, to 16,229.86, while Sydney dropped 1.28 percent, or 68.8 points, to close at 5,313.4, leaving it in negative territory for the year to date. Seoul fell 0.12 percent, or 2.47 points, to 2,031.64 and Hong Kong eased 0.38 percent, or 89.72 points, to 23,678.41.

However, Shanghai reversed morning losses to end 0.11 percent higher, adding 2.62 points, to 2,347.72

Analysts said the losses could be partially blamed on profit-taking at the end of the quarter after a recent uptrend, while investors contemplate a weak outlook for China and Japan and the likelihood of higher US interest rates from next year.

US stocks turned negative Thursday, led by a sell-off in Apple, which has been hit by complaints about its new operating system and latest iPhone models.

The Dow tumbled 1.54 percent and the S&P 500 lost 1.62 percent. The Nasdaq sank 1.94 percent.

Adding to downward pressure in New York was news that US durable goods orders plunged 18.2 percent in August while the Labor Department said new claims for unemployment insurance rose last week.

Japan said Friday that inflation came in at 3.1 percent in August. Excluding the impact of a sales tax hike in April, the rise in core consumer prices was 1.1 percent, well short of the Bank of Japan s ambitious 2.0 percent target for next year.

Many economists say the central bank may have to further ease monetary policy to offset the long-term impact of a sales tax hike on consumption.

The sharp fall in equities filtered through to the foreign exchange market, where the dollar slipped in US trade Thursday to 108.73 yen from 109.30 yen earlier in Tokyo.

But in afternoon exchanges Friday the greenback edged back 109.00 yen.

– Struggling euro –
The euro was also struggling following a series of results suggesting the eurozone economy s tepid recovery was faltering.

The euro — which hit a two-year low below $1.27 intraday Thursday — bought $1.2745 and 138.95 yen against $1.2750 and 138.62 yen in New York.

On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery was down 13 cents to $92.40 while Brent crude for November eased 28 cents to $96.72 in afternoon trade.

Gold was at 1,223.10 an ounce against $1,225.14 late Thursday.

In other markets:

— Taipei lost 0.24 percent, or 21.77 points, to 8,989.82.

Hon Hai shed 2.9 percent to Tw$97.1 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 0.82 percent to Tw$121.0.

— Wellington shed 0.46 percent, or 24.37 points, to 5,253.49.

Fletcher Building was down 0.46 percent at NZ$8.75 and Spark slipped 1.34 percent to NZ$2.95.

— Manila closed 0.45 percent lower, slipping 32.91 points to 7,261.30.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone dropped 1.60 percent to 3,198.00 pesos and Metropolitan Bank shed 1.49 percent to 86.00 pesos, while Alliance Global eased 1.15 percent to 25.85 pesos.

— Jakarta ended down 1.32 percent, or 68.82 points, at 5,132.56.

Lender Bank Negara Indonesia fell 4.76 percent to 5,500 rupiah, while food manufacturer Indofood Sukses Makmur rose 0.36 percent to 6,950 rupiah.

— Singapore closed up 0.04 percent, or 1.22 points, to 3,292.21.

DBS bank rose 0.71 percent to Sg$18.52 while vehicle distributor Jardine Cycle & Carriage eased 0.30 percent to Sg$43.28.

— Malaysia s key index lost 2.61 points, or 0.14 percent, to end at 1,840.50.

Malayan Banking fell 0.3 percent to 9.85 ringgit, while Telekom Malaysia shed 0.3 percent to 6.52. Utility Tenaga Nasional gained 0.2 percent to 12.28 ringgit.

— Bangkok rose 0.51 percent, or 8.17 points, to 1,600.16.

Bangchak Petroleum gained 3.47 percent to 37.25 baht, while Bumrungrad Hospital added 2.64 percent to 136.00 baht.

— Mumbai gained 0.60 percent or 157.96 points to end at 26,626.32 points.

IndiaBulls Real Estate rose 9.57 percent to 72.70 rupees, while Suzlon Energy lost 4.98 percent to 14.30 rupees.

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