U.S. stock indices declined on Wednesday amid concerns over global economic growth as weak manufacturing data from China and the euro zone weighed on oil prices.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 50.58 points, or 0.3%, to 16279.89. The S&P 500 declined 3.98 points, or 0.2%, to 1938.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 3.98 points, or 0.1%, to 4752.74.

Data from Markit Economics showed on Wednesday that activity in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy grew in September at the same modest pace as in August. Markit's preliminary Manufacturing PMI came in at 53.0 in line with expectations.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng dropped 0.93%, or 199.11 points, to 21,103.80. China Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.27%, or 8.28 point, to 3,124.17. The Nikkei lost 1.99%, or 358.82, to 17,711.39.

Asian stock indices mostly fell as investors continued assessing disappointing Chinese manufacturing data released on Wednesday.

Shares of Japanese car manufacturers fell amid Volkswagen's emission scandal.