Asian stocks outside Japan fell, with a regional index heading for its first decline in four days, after an official gauge of manufacturing activity in China expanded at the slowest pace in four months.

Nikkei 225 13,852.5 +175.18 +1.28%

Hang Seng 20,803.29 +363.21 +1.78%

S&P/ASX 200 4,710.3 -92.29 -1.92%

Shanghai Composite 1,995.24 +16.04 +0.81%

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., Australia's third-largest iron-ore producer that counts China as its biggest market, dropped 3 percent.

CapitaLand Ltd. dropped 1.6 percent, pacing losses among Singapore homebuilders after the city's central bank tightened lending rules to curb rising property prices.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No. 1 carmaker, gained 1.2 percent as the yen weakened against the dollar.