Worries about Europe's debt crisis persist on fears Greece could default and a possible contagion could become very probable. as the crisis is expected to worsen, markets will continue heading down and seek safe haven until some signs of stability will emerge.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell by 2.1% at 14:00 in Tokyo. The euro fell today against the yen to the lowest since June 2001. The European debt crisis will continue to be on focus. Meanwhile China's financial markets are closed today, and will remain shut for the rest of the week.
Nikkei 225
Nikkei 225 fell today by 1.05% or 89.36 points closing at 8456.12. From 225 shares, 37 advanced, 184 declined and 4 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the industrials that lost 35.06 points and consumer goods that lost 22.31 points.
Lagging shares today were Canon Inc which fell by 2.58% closing at 3400 yen, second was Fast Retailing Co Ltd which fell by 0.93% closing at 13900 yen. And Honda Motors which fell by 2.78% closing at 2202 yen.
Among the shares that advanced Softbank Corp topped the list by rising 2.20% closing at 2420 yen, followed by Nikon Corp which rose by 3.42% and closing at 1845 yen. And Konami Corp which rose by 0.91% and closing at 2648 yen.
S&P/ASX 200
The S&P/ASX 200 fell today by 0.64% or 24.90 points closing at 3872.10. From 200 companies, 71 shares ended green compared to 112 ending in red and 17 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the financials that lost 9.39 points and consumer services that lost 4.86 points.
Lagging shares today included White Energy Co Ltd that retreated 7.22% closing at 1.29 Australian dollars, trailed David Jones Ltd loosing 6.27% closing at 2.84 dollars. And Kagara Ltd that fell 5.19% closing at 0.37 Australian dollars.
Sundance Resources Ltd inclined the most today as it rose 5.81% closing at 0.46 Australian dollars, followed by Perseus Mining Ltd surging 5.44% closing at 3.10 Australian dollars, and Alacer Gold Corp that surged by 4.97% closing at 10.34 Australian dollars.
Hang Seng
Hang Seng fell today by 3.40% or 571.88 points to close at 16250.27. From 46 companies, 4 rose today, while 42 fell, and 0 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the financials that fell 324.48 points and oil & gas that fell 87.18 points.
Lagging shares today were HSBC Holdings PLC which fell 2.91% closing at 56.65 Hong Kong dollars, and CNOOC Ltd falling by 6.74% closing at 11.34 Hong Kong dollars. And AIA Group Ltd falling by 7.69% closing at 19.94 Hong Kong dollars.
The shares that advanced were Power Assets Holdings Ltd topped the list by rising 2.24% closing at 61.60 Hong Kong dollars, followed China Overseas Land & Investment that rose by 2.98% and closing at 10.36 Hong Kong dollars. And Ping An Insurance Group Co that rose by 0.91% and closing at 38.65 Hong Kong dollars.