Nikkei: 9,441.03 (–115.62) Hang Seng: 23,520.62 (–309.69) Shanghai Comp: 3,000.08 (–57.25)ASIAN STOCKS fell for a third day yesterday, after Standard & Poor's cut the US long-term credit outlook, fuelling concern that a recovery in the global economy may slow.
Toyota, with North America as its biggest market, fell 3.1 per cent to ¥3,125, the biggest drag on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index.
Canon, the world’s biggest camera maker, sank 1.8 per cent to ¥3,555.
In Sydney, James Hardie Industries, a seller of home siding in the US, declined 2.5 per cent to A$5.85.
BHP slipped 1.7 per cent to A$46.67, the second-biggest drag on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index.
Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest mining company by sales, dropped 2.3 per cent to A$82.10.
Inpex, Japan’s largest oil and gas explorer, fell 2.5 per cent to ¥583,000.
Cnooc sank 2.1 per cent to HK$18.90.
Elpida Memory, the world’s third-largest maker of computer memory, tumbled 4.8 per cent to ¥1,117.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, a contract chipmaker, slipped 1.3 per cent to NT$68.1. – (Bloomberg)
