Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index retreating from a six-week high, after reports showed an unexpected slump in Chinese exports and slower growth in Japan than economists had projected.

Nikkei 225 15,120.14 -153.93 -1.01%

S&P/ASX 200 5,411.52 -50.79 -0.93%

Shanghai Composite 1,999.06 -58.84 -2.86%

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., Australia’s No. 3 producer of iron ore, sank 9.4 percent in Sydney after futures for the metal used to make steel fell into a bear market.

Malaysian Airline System Bhd. headed for a record low after one of its planes bound for Beijing vanished two days ago with 239 people aboard.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. dropped 2.6 percent in Mumbai after the Indian pharmaceutical company recalled a generic cholesterol-lowering drug.