Nikkei:10,069.53 (–68.20) Hang Seng:22,347.23 (–379.20) Shanghai Comp:2,802.69 (–4.91)
ASIAN STOCKS fell yesterday, with the regional benchmark index headed for its biggest drop in three weeks, as US unemployment unexpectedly increased, dimming the outlook for the global economic recovery and exporters’ earnings.
“Jobs data in the US continue to point to anemic growth. While Greece’s debt problems have been pushed out, eventually it will come back to haunt us,” said Lee King Fuei, a Singapore-based fund manager at Schroders.
Samsung, South Korea’s top exporter of consumer electronics, dropped 2.3 per cent to 865,000 won in Seoul.
Li and Fung, the biggest supplier of toys and clothes to Target and Wal-Mart Stores, sank 3.8 per cent to HK$14.26 in Hong Kong.
Qantas Airways, Australia’s largest airline, fell 3.3 per cent to A$1.935.
BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest mining company, lost 1.5 per cent to A$44.30.
Rio Tinto, the second-largest mining company by sales, slid 1.4 per cent to A$83.20.
Cnooc, China’s main offshore oil and gas producer, fell 1.5 per cent to HK$18.22 in Hong Kong. – (Bloomberg)
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