Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index poised to drop for a fourth day, as a report showed U.S. service industries expanded less than expected and raw-material shares led declines.
Nikkei 225 15,814.37 -94.51 -0.59%
S&P/ASX 200 5,316.99 -7.89 -0.15%
Shanghai Composite 2,044.44 -1.27 -0.06%
Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co., an oil processor, slumped 5.9 percent, leading material shares lower.
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Southeast Asia’s second-biggest lender, fell 0.8 percent in Singapore amid concern it may pay too much to take over Hong Kong’s Wing Hang Bank Ltd.
Li & Fung Ltd., the world’s largest supplier of clothes and toys to retailers, gained 8.5 percent in Hong Kong as the company called its 2013 performance “solid.”