Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.45% ) down 0.5% Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI HSI, -0.28% ) down 0.4% Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -1.16% ) down 1.8% Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.34% ) up 0.9% Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.08% ) up 0.1% Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.14% ) up 0.1%
Asian stocks fell, led by Japanese shares, while the yen strengthened as data on the US economy and Chinese manufacturing fueled concern over the global slowdown. Crude oil and copper retreated as Australian bonds climbed. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0.4 per cent in a fourth day of declines by 9.24am in Tokyo, as Japan's Topix index slipped 1.1 per cent. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures dropped 0.1 per cent. The yen, regarded as a haven by some investors, touched its strongest level since Jan 16, while Korea's won slipped. Australian three- and 10-year bond yields slid to record lows before an interest-rate review Tuesday. Copper futures lost 0.8 per cent and gold retreated, while US oil dropped 2.1 per cent after surging at the end of last week.
SINGAPORE share prices opened higher on Monday with the Straits Times Index up 7.35 points to 3,398.55. Volume was 162.0 million shares worth S$303.5 million. Gainers outnumbered losers 86 to 70.
