Asian stocks outside Japan fell for a third day after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last meeting signaled bond purchases may be reduced in coming months and a gauge of China manufacturing fell more than expected.

Nikkei 225 15,365.6 +289.52 +1.92%

Hang Seng 23,580.29 -120.57 -0.51%

S&P/ASX 200 5,288.32 -19.35 -0.36%

Shanghai Composite 2,205.77 -0.85 -0.04%

Perseus Mining Ltd. led gold producers lower, slumping 10 percent in Sydney after prices for metal fell amid concern tapering stimulus will erode demand for haven assets.

Prince Frog International Holdings Ltd., a maker of baby-care products suspended after its accounting came under scrutiny by a short-seller, tumbled 22 percent in Hong Kong as it resumed trading.

Honda Motor Co., a Japanese carmaker that gets more than 80 percent of revenue abroad, rose 3.4 percent as the yen fell.