Asian markets end down, Nikkei bucks trend

Asian markets ended in the red owing to weakness in the global markets. The markets opened on a positive note this morning after improving global manufacturing data showed signs of a recovery.

The Hang Seng slumped 500 points (2.5%) to 18,389. The Nikkei, however, added 27 points to 9,704.

The Straits Times slipped 25 points (1%) to 2,354.

The Shanghai Composite, Seoul Composite and Taiwan Weighted were flat at 2,724, 1,413 and 6,949, respectively.
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(Updated at 1118 hrs)

Optimistic global manufacturing data has helped Asian markets gain this morning.

The Hang Seng has slipped 58 points to 18,831. The NIkkei has gained 65 points to 9,742.

The Straits Times and the Shanghai Composite have added 25 points (1%) each to 2,405 and 2,747. The Seoul Composite is flat at 1,420.

The Taiwan Weighted has shed 47 points to 6,907.
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(Updated at 0816 hrs)

Asian markets today opened on a positive note.

Hong Kong's key index Hang Seng has slipped 68 points to 18,820.

Japan's index Nikkei has added 86 points at 9,764.The stock gained 0.9 % on Tuesday after the U.S. manufacturing data reinforced hopes that demand will stabilise soon, while automakers such as Toyota and Honda advanced after General Motors' bankruptcy filing removed some uncertainty from the market.

China's Shanghai Composite has gained 19 points at 2,741.

The Straits Times and the Seoul Composite advanced 16 points each at 2,396 and 1,431, respectively.

The Taiwan Weighted has soared 80 points to 7,034.