Asian stocksdeclined, with the benchmark regional index heading toward theworst monthly loss in a year, as Chinese stocks headed for a bearmarket amid a cash crunch at banks in the world's second-largesteconomy.

Nikkei 225 13,062.78 -167.35 -1.26%

Hang Seng 19,778.02 -485.29 -2.39%

S&P/ASX 200 4,669.1 -69.70 -1.47%

Shanghai Composite 1,963.24 -109.86 -5.30%

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., the world's largestlender, lost 2.6 percent in Hong Kong, having risen just one day inJune.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the No. 1 mining company, declined 3.4 percent,as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its growth forecast forChina.

AMP Ltd. tumbled 13 percent, its biggest slide in 10 years, afterAustralia's biggest life insurer and pension manager said itexpects profit will fall as much as 16 percent.