Asian markets trade mostly lower on Wednesday

16 Jan 2013 Evaluate

Most of the Asian equity indices were trading lower in Wednesday’s morning session with Japanese benchmark index heading for its first decline in three days, as Nikkei Stock Average retreated from a 32-month high on profit-booking amid earnings concerns. However, investors shrugged off higher-than-expected Japan’s machinery orders. Orders from manufacturers rose 3.9 percent from a month earlier, while those from non-manufacturers rose 6.2 percent for the fourth-straight gain.

Shanghai Composite declined 10.21 points or 0.44% to 2,315.47, Hang Seng slipped 47.74 points or 0.20% to 23,333.77, Jakarta Composite dipped 0.35 points or 0.01% to 4,400.47, KLSE Composite contracted 4.24 points or 0.25% to 1,681.65, Nikkei 225 tumbled 226.99 points or 2.09% to 10,652.09 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 35.38 points or 0.46% to 7,729.64.

On the flip side, Straits Times increased 10.86 points or 0.34% to 3,206.93 and KOSPI Composite was up by 4.85 points or 0.24% to 1,988.59.

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