Asian stocks outside Japan fell, with a regional gauge heading for its lowest close since September, amid concern the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus and China's economic slowdown may deepen as a cash crunch worsens.

Nikkei 225 13,230.13 +215.55 +1.66 %

Hang Seng 20,258.27 -124.60 -0.61 %

S&P/ASX 200 4,738.8 -19.59 -0.41 %

Shanghai Composite 2,073.78 -10.24 -0.49 %

Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. dropped 2.9 percent, pacing losses among Chinese developers after the nation's money-market rates retreated from records.

Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia's No. 1 gold producer, slumped 3.7 percent as the bullion headed for its biggest weekly drop since September 2011. Honda Motor Co. rose 2 percent, pacing gains among Japanese exporters after the yen weakened.