Asian markets end down on weak US cues

Asian markets have ended in red today, following weak cues from US markets.

The Hang Seng slumped 518 points (3%) to 16,542. The Nikkei tumbled 247 points (2.5%) to 9,094.

The Taiwan Weighted shed 121 points (2%) at 6,364. The Straits Times declined 45 points (2%) to 2,140. The Seoul Composite dropped 34 points (2%) to 1,380.

The Shanghai Composite fell 24 points to 2,640.

The US markets - Dow slumped 184 points, and the Nasdaq shed 24 points on Wednesday.
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(Updated at 1115 hrs)

The Hang Seng has plunged 551 points(3%) to 16,508. The Nikkei continues to languish at lower levels and is now 265 points (3%) down to 9,076.

The Shanghai Composite has shed 41 points to 2,622.

The Straits Times has slipped 54 points (2.5%) to 2,131. The Seoul Composite and the Taiwan Weighted Index have dropped 1% each to 1,387 and 6,384, respectively.

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Updated at 0819 Hrs:

Asian markets opened down this morning following worry over Nikon Corp's prediction of first annual loss in more than a decade.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng has plunged 566 points (3.5%) to 16,494. The Nikkei has tumbled 238 points (2.5%) to 9,103.

The Straits Times has shed 44 points (2%) to 2,141. The Seoul Composite dropped 24 points (2%) to 2,141. The Taiwan Weighted has declined 65 points to 6,419.

The Shanghai Composite has slipped 32 points to 2,632.