Asian markets fall; Hang Seng drops 130pts

Asian markets ended in red today, with cautious investors waiting for the US markets to open after an extended weekend.

The Hang Seng shed 130 points (1%) to 16,991. Japan's Nikkei was down 36 points to 9,310.

The Taiwan Weighted dropped 51 points (1%) to 6,683. The Seoul Composite declined 29 points (2%) to 1,371.

The Straits Times slipped 27 points (1%) to 2,240. The Shanghai Composite was down 21 points (1%) to 2,588.
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(Updated at 1124 hrs)

European equities were set to fall on Tuesday, after tracking losses in Asia where the investors were disturbed by tensions surrounding
North Korea, and also before the announcement of the key U.S. consumer confidence data.

The Hang Sang has added 20 points at 17,142. The Nikkei has shed 67 points to 9,280.

The Shanghai Composite has dropped four points to 2,606.

The Straits Times is flat at 2,264.

The Seoul Composite has declined 36 points (2.5%) to 1,365 and the Taiwan Weighted index is down 66 points (1%) at 6,669.
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Updated at 1128 Hrs:

Asian markets are mostly in the green this morning.

Banking shares and a retreating yen dragged the Nikkei 80 points (1%) to 9,267. The Hang Seng has advanced 35 points to 17,157.

The Taiwan Weighted has moved up 46 points to 6,781. The Straits Times is up nine points at 2,276.

The Shanghai Composite and the Seoul Composite are flat at 2,605 and 1,394.