The Asian stocks' benchmark index fell for the fifth consecutive day, reaching its lowest levels in weeks on the eve of the release of the minutes of the July Federal Reserve meeting.
Among the headline stocks, Australian group BHP Billiton fell 2,4% in Sydney following the announcement of narrowing profits in the second half. Mobile game groups Gree and Dena fell more than 7% in Tokyo after the Nikkei newspaper reported that Sega is among 15 companies to form a marketing group intent on bypassing mobile platforms. Cnooc, on the other hand, rose 3,6% in Hong Kong following the announcement of better-than-expected results for the first half for the group active in offshore oil and gas exploration.
The MSCI Asia Pacific index was down 0,7% at 130.62 as of 10:43 am in Hong Kong, with all ten industry groups present to the extent declining. The index is down 3,3% in the past four days, reaching its lowest level since July 9. Japan's Topix fell 0,9%, while South Korea's Kospi fell 1 percent. The Hang Seng contracted 1,4% and the Shanghai Composite 0,3%. Bucking the trend, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0,3% and New Zealand's NZX 50 was up 0,9%. The Taiwan market was closed due to a tropical storm.
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