Asian stocks fell, paring the first weekly advance in six weeks, amid concern that central banks are struggling to reinforce global demand amid Europe’s worsening debt crisis.

Nikkei 225 8,459.26 -180.46 -2.09%

S&P/ASX 200 4,063.7 -44.87 -1.09%

Shanghai Composite 2,281.23 -11.90 -0.52%

Sony Corp., Japan’s No. 1 exporter of consumer electronics, slid 5.1 percent.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, gained 1.2 percent in Sydney after China cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2008 and metals prices climbed.

Renesas Electronics Corp. soared as much as 19 percent on a report the maker of automotive microcontrollers was scrapping a share sale.