Asian stocks fell for a second day, paring the biggest monthly advance since January 2012 for the regional benchmark index, after U.S. consumer confidence slumped in September to a four-month low.

Nikkei 225 14,620.53 -112.08 -0.76%

Hang Seng 23,209.63 +30.59 +0.13%

S&P/ASX 200 5,275.94 +41.78 +0.80%

Shanghai Composite 2,198.52 -9.02 -0.41%

Mitsui Chemicals Inc. lost 4.8 percent in Tokyo, leading materials producers lower.

NTT Data Corp. , a Japanese network-services company, slumped 7.8 percent, pacing a retreat in technology firms.

Tokyo Electron Ltd. surged 13 percent after Applied Materials Inc., the largest chipmaking-equipment supplier, agreed to buy the company for $9.39 billion in stock.