U.S. stock indices fell on Wednesday amid persistent declines in oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 75.70 points, or 0.43%, to 17,492.30. The S&P 500 lost 15.97 points, or 0.8%, to 2,047.62. The Nasdaq Composite declined 75.38 points, or 1.5% to 5,022.87.

The S&P and the Dow are down 0.6% and 1.9% respectively for the year.

The Wall Street Journal reported that DuPont and Dow Chemical are ready to finalize a merger deal worth around $120 billion. The result might be announced in the coming days. This news supported commodity companies.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng edged down 0.01%, or 2.90, to 21,800.86. China Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.28%, or 9.65, to 3.482.09. The Nikkei fell 1.37%, or 263.58, to 19,037.49.

Asian indices traded mixed. Chinese stocks advanced on news that in March 2016 Chinese authorities would introduce new rules for initial public offering listings. Over 600 companies are waiting for permission to go public.

Japanese stocks declined. A stronger yen weighed on major exporters.