Asian equity benchmarks are trading lower in the early deals on Monday, following the losses on Wall Street and lower commodity prices. Weak economic data from the US and China on Friday also dampened investor sentiment. Investors are treading cautiously ahead of this week's meeting of the US Federal Reserve. The Japanese market declined, hit by losses in US shares after dismal corporate earnings soured the mood and as worries about slowing global growth capped risk appetite.
Nikkei 225 declined 244.55 points or 1.19 % to 20,299.98, KOSPI Index dipped 9.53 points or 0.47 % to 2,036.43, Hang Seng slipped 706.32 points or 2.81 % to 24,422.19, Taiwan Weighted contracted 179.02 points or 2.04 % to 8,588.84, Straits Times dropped 27.51 points or 0.82 % to 3,325.14, Jakarta Composite decreased 28.44 points or 0.59 % to 4,828.15, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI crumbled 2.22 points or 0.13 % to 1,718.54 and Shanghai Composite was down by 99.37 points or 2.44 % to 3,971.53.