Asian stocks fell as rising tensions between Japan and China pushed down shares of Tokyo- listed companies from Honda Motor Co. to Fast Retailing Co. amid signs of slowing growth in the U.S. and a worsening European debt crisis.
Nikkei 225 9,123.77 -35.62 -0.39%
S&P/ASX 200 4,394.7 -7.83 -0.18%
Shanghai Composite 2,059.54 -18.96 -0.91%
BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, slid 0.6 percent in Sydney as metal prices dropped.
Fast Retailing, Asia’s biggest apparel chain, tumbled 7 percent, in Tokyo as it was forced to shut stores in China amid anti-Japanese protests.
Hokuriku Electric Power Co. surged 6.4 percent after a Japanese government minister signaled he has no plans to stop construction of nuclear reactors.