Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index wiping out its gains for the month, as reports on Japanese retail sales and South Korean business confidence add to signs of an economic slowdown and investors doubt the Federal Reserve will announce further stimulus.

Nikkei 225 8,983.78 -86.03 -0.95%

S&P/ASX 200 4,315.7 -40.74 -0.94%

Shanghai Composite 2,050.31 -2.92 -0.14%

Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s biggest mobile-phone maker by sales, slipped 1.2 percent in Seoul.

Atlas Iron Ltd. sank 5.5 percent, leading Australian iron-ore producers lower after the metal’s price in China declined to the lowest level in almost three years.

China Cosco Holdings Co. slid 4.1 percent in Hong Kong after the nation’s largest listed shipping company posted a wider first-half loss.