Asian stocks fell as UBS AG cut its profit outlook for BHP Billiton Ltd. and the Bank for International Settlements said central banks are facing the limit of their ability to boost economic growth.

Nikkei 225 8,734.62 -63.73 -0.72%

S&P/ASX 200 4,027.8 -20.41 -0.50%

Shanghai Composite 2,224.2 -36.68 -1.62%

BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, led materials companies lower, sliding 1.4 percent.

Samsung Electronics Co. fell 4.2 percent, dragging technology stocks lower, as the world’s top mobile-phone maker investigated a complaint that one of its smartphones caught fire.

Billabong International Ltd., Australia’s largest surf-wear maker, slumped 34 percent after selling A$155 million ($155 million) of new shares.