![]( "Asian stocks dropped led by building material producers and commodity companies")
Asian stocks fell today after oil prices fell the most in one month and the stocks fall was led by building material producers and commodity companies amid concerns about ending the U.S tax credit refund program by the end of October. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped 1% to reach 118.70 at 9:55 AM Tokyo time.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 1.28% losing 130.24 points to reach 140232.38 points at 4:00 GMT and the drop in Japanese stocks was led by Astellas Pharma Inc that declined 6.98% making the Nikkei index lose 10.55 points, while Pacific Metals Co Ltd fell 4.75% and Unitika Ltd slipped 3.80%. Yet, Mizuho Financial Group Inc had the highest trading volume with 81.23 million, while Nomura Holdings Inc recorded a trading volume of 42.4 million and Hitachi Ltd recorded 37.4 million.
However, the HANG SENG INDEX declined 1.42% losing 327.57 points and reaching 22264.77 at 4:00 GMT, having Sino Land Co Ltd falling 4.76%, while Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd declined 3.77% and Henderson Land Development Co fell 3.89%.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 INDEX edged down by 1.37% to fall 66.40 points and reach 4763.90 points. Worleyparsons Ltd plunged 7.14% and Rio Tinto Ltd fell 2.11%, while Woodside Petroleum Ltd declined 2.50%.