BSE Sensex edges lower; financial stocks hit

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex and Nifty were trading lower on Monday as Asian stocks slumped after data showed Japan's economy unexpectedly slipped into recession.

The 30-share Sensex was down 0.27 percent while the broader Nifty fell 0.3 percent as of 12:25 p.m.

The MSCI-Asia Pacific excluding Japan index fell 0.34 percent.

Financial stocks led declines.

Housing Development Finance Corp fell 1.99 percent, HDFC Bank was down 1.56 percent on foreign investment worries.

ICICI Bank fell 1.48 percent, while Axis Bank was down 0.55 percent.

Brent crude jumped almost $2 a barrel a day after prices crashed to four-year lows below $80.

(Reporting by Abhishek Vishnoi)