Asian stocks fell as better-than- expected U.S. consumer confidence failed to encourage buying after the region’s benchmark equities index yesterday gained the most in two months. Japanese shares led losses after the expiration of a deadline for getting dividend payments.

Nikkei 225 10,182.57 -72.58 -0.71%

Hang Seng 20,885.42 -161.49 -0.77%

S&P/ASX 200 4,343.51 +42.18 +0.98%

Shanghai Composite 2,284.88 -62.30 -2.65%

Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea’s biggest exporter of consumer electronics, lost 0.8 percent.

Mizuho Financial Group Inc., Japan’s third-largest bank by market value, paced losses among financial firms.

Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd. slumped 16 percent in Hong Kong after China’s No. 2 electronics retailer missed profit estimates Li & Fung Ltd., the world’s biggest supplier of clothes and toys to retailers, slid 5.3 percent in Hong Kong on a plan to sell shares.