Asian Markets Slump Broadly on China’s Slowing Growth Concerns

By Investors Hub

Asian stocks fell broadly on Wednesday as commodities declined on concerns over slowing growth in China and uncertainty prevailed over the fate of a U.S. tax reform bill.

Chinese shares extended losses after a slew of data released on Tuesday suggested that growth was moderating.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 27.01 points or 0.8 percent to 3,402.54, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slumped 300.43 points or 1 percent to 28,851.69.

Japanese shares tumbled as the yen surged and economic data on industrial output and GDP painted a mixed picture of the economy.

While Japan’s industrial output declined less than initially estimated in September, GDP grew 0.3 percent sequentially in the third quarter, shy of expectations for a 0.4 percent gain and down from 0.6 percent in the second quarter, separate reports showed.

The Nikkei 225 Index gave up 351.69 points or 1.6 percent to end at 22,028.32, and the broader Topix Index closed 2 percent lower at 1,744.01.

Exporters Canon, Sony and Panasonic lost 2-3 percent, while energy stocks Inpex Corp and Japan Petroleum ended down 3.7 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.

Australian shares fell for a fourth consecutive session as lower prices for oil and metals pulled down mining and energy stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 34.50 points or 0.6 percent to finish at 5,934.20, and the broader All Ordinaries Index ended down 36.40 points or 0.6 percent at 6,012.30.

Oil Search, Origin Energy, Santos and Beach Energy lost 2-4 percent after oil prices fell for a third day in a row on Tuesday. A broad based pullback in base metals prices weighed on the mining sector, with BHP Billiton, South32, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group losing 2-3 percent.

The big four banks fell between 0.2 percent and 0.8 percent after the release of sluggish wage growth and consumer confidence data.

Meanwhile, DuluxGroup shares soared 6.1 percent after the paints maker reported a 10 percent increase in full-year profit and said it expects to increase its annual profit in 2018.