As demand for safe heaven intensified today, the Asian stock markets dropped where the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 2.9% at 15:04 in Tokyo. Fears were ignited by the data signaling global economic growth is slowing.
Meanwhile European finance ministers will meet today in Luxembourg to weigh the risks of a Greek default and find ways to boost the debt rescue plan, which will keep investors cautious.
The Tankan survey indicated today that sentiment among Japan's largest manufacturers is worse than before the earthquake, while in the US the ISM manufacturing is expected to rise in September at the slowest pace since July 2009.
Nikkei 225
Nikkei 225 fell today by 1.78% or 154.81 points closing at 8545.48. From 225 shares, 43 advanced, 176 declined and 6 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the industrials that lost 78.69 points and consumer goods that lost 33.47 points.
Lagging shares today were Fanuc Corp which fell by 4.62% closing at 10330 yen, second was Kyocera Corp which fell by 3.21% closing at 6330 yen. And Olympus Corp which fell by 4.59% closing at 2306 yen.
Among the shares that advanced Softbank Corp topped the list by rising 3.32% closing at 2368 yen, followed by KDDI Corp which rose by 3.73% and closing at 556000 yen. And Eisai Co Ltd which rose by 1.60% and closing at 3175 yen.
S&P/ASX 200
The S&P/ASX 200 fell today by 2.78% or 111.60 points closing at 3897.00. From 200 companies, 12 shares ended green compared to 180 ending in red and 8 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the financials that lost 49.21 points and basic materials that lost 31.38 points.
Lagging shares today included Murchison Metals Ltd that retreated 14.93% closing at 0.28 Australian dollars, trailed Energy World Corp Ltd loosing 14.56% closing at 0.44 dollars. And Aquarius Platinum Ltd that fell 11.11% closing at 2.64 Australian dollars.
Extract Resources Ltd inclined the most today as it rose 1.18% closing at 7.72 Australian dollars, followed by CSL Ltd surging 1.18% closing at 30.03 Australian dollars, and OceanaGold Corp that surged by 0.88% closing at 2.28 Australian dollars.
Hang Seng
Hang Seng fell today by 4.38% or 770.26 points to close at 16822.15. From 46 companies, 3 rose today, while 42 fell, and 1 unchanged. Sectors leading the decline were the financials that fell 482.47 points and oil & gas that fell 72.55 points.
Lagging shares today were HSBC Holdings PLC which fell 4.19% closing at 58.35 Hong Kong dollars, and Tencent Holdings Ltd falling by 9.26% closing at 149.00 Hong Kong dollars. And CNOOC Ltd falling by 6.46% closing at 12.16 Hong Kong dollars.
The shares that advanced were Swire Pacific Ltd topped the list by rising 2.17% closing at 82.25 Hong Kong dollars, followed Power Assets Holdings Ltd that rose by 0.67% and closing at 60.25 Hong Kong dollars. And Esprit Holdings Ltd that rose by 3.25% and closing at 9.86 Hong Kong dollars.