Asian stocks declined from the highest level since June 2008, led lower by Japanese shares as data signaled a slowdown in global manufacturing. U.K. equities rose, while oil and industrial metals dropped. Australian and Chinese reports today signaled a slowdown in manufacturing before a U.K. Purchasing Managers' Index forecast to show a third month of contraction. Markets in the U.K., Denmark and Ireland are open today while most others in Europe and Asia are closed for holidays.

Nikkei 225 13,799.35 -61.51 -0.44%

Hang Seng Closed

S&P/ASX 200 5,166.18 -25.04 -0.48%

Shanghai Composite Closed

Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, slid 3 percent after reporting a loss six times bigger than its forecast.

Astellas Pharma Inc. slid 1.2 percent after U.S. regulators said its cancer drug produced with Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. may need another clinical trial.

Canon Inc., the world's biggest camera maker, declined 1.6 percent.

ASX Ltd. rose 0.4 percent to its highest closing level in two years after the operator of Australia's main stock exchange reported a 9.5 percent increase in third-quarter sales.