Asian stocks dropped, with the regional benchmark index trimming the biggest weekly advance since January, after companies including Li & Fung Ltd. posted lower profit and as China reported export growth slowed more than economists’ expectations. Outbound shipments increased 1 percent from a year earlier and imports rose 4.7 percent, the customs bureau said in a statement today in Beijing. The trade surplus was $25.1 billion compared with $31.5 billion a year earlier. Export growth was below all 32 estimates in a Bloomberg survey.
Nikkei 225 8,891.44 -87.16 -0.97%
S&P/ASX 200 4,277.3 -30.97 -0.72%
Shanghai Composite 2,168.9 -5.21 -0.24%
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. fell 2.5 percent, leading Chinese creditors lower, after new loans last month came in less than analysts expected.
Li & Fung plunged by a record in Hong Kong as reduced spending by U.S. and European shoppers drove down core operating profit at the supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Trend Micro Inc. slumped 9.1 percent in Tokyo after earnings fell at the maker of anti-virus software.