UPDATE: Asian markets end in red

The Hang Seng  ended  418 points down at 14,840 .The Nikkei advanced 18 points to 8,726.

The Shanghai Composite  declined 43 points to 2,405. The Straits Times dropped 34 points to 1,819 and the Taiwan Weighted Index shed 176 points to 5,844.

The Seoul Composite ended 14 points lower at 1,339.

Updated at 1212 hrs:

The Hang Seng is down 416 points at 14,843. The Nikkei ended 18 points higher at 8,726.

The Shanghai Composite is down seven points to 2,412.

The Straits Times has decreased 43 points to 1,810 and the Seoul Composite has shed 14 points to 1,340.

The Taiwan Weighted Index has dropped 176 points to 5,705.

Updated at 0807 hrs:

The Hang Seng is down 302 points at 14,957. The Nikkei however has advanced 69 points to 8,777.

The Shanghai Composite has declined 26 points to 2,422.

The Straits Times has dropped 41 points to 1,819, and the Taiwan Weighted Index has shed 37 points to 5,844.

The Seoul Composite is down 2 points to 1,352.