Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index heading for its first decline in three days, after a preliminary report showed Chinese manufacturing expanded less than economists estimated.

Nikkei 225 13,568.37 +251.89 +1.89%

S&P/ASX 200 4,966.55 +34.64 +0.70%

Shanghai Composite 2,242.17 -2.47 -0.11%

Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., the nation's third-largest lender, slid 3.1 percent, the most in two months, in Hong Kong.

Yamada Denki Co. sank 4.8 percent in Tokyo after the consumer electronics retailer missed its full-year profit forecast.