Asia Roundup: Broadly lower as investors turn cautious

HONG KONG: Asian markets were broadly lower yesterday as investors grew anxious following news that more jobs than expected had been lost in the US.

Sentiment was depressed after a 0.23 per cent drop on Wall Street on Friday triggered by news the US economy shed 263,000 jobs in September. Investors are also cautious ahead of the US corporate earnings season, which begins this week.

TOKYO: Down 0.59 per cent. The Nikkei-225 dropped 57.38 points to 9,674.49. Stocks are at their lowest level in almost 11 weeks.

"Investor attention will likely shift to micro figures from macro data," Yoshinori Nagano, senior strategist at Daiwa Asset Management, told Dow Jones Newswires.

SYDNEY: Down 0.62 per cent. The SP/ASX200 fell 28.4 points at 4,573.3.

"The market was directionless and oscillated in a tight range either side of the flat line seemingly waiting for tomorrow's (Tuesday's) interest rate decision," IG Markets research analyst Ben Potter said.

SEOUL: Down 2.29 per cent. The Kospi lost 37.73 points at 1,606.90.

Technology firms fell sharply on concerns their earnings may peak in the third quarter and the won's strength against the dollar may hurt their price competitiveness.

TAIPEI: Up 0.35 per cent. The weighted index rose 26.10 points to 7,437.98.

"Today's gains were not impressive with many investors taking to the sidelines," Concord Securities analyst Allen Lin said, referring to shrinking trade.

He said the market is expected to consolidate over the next few sessions on a lack of fresh cues.

BANGKOK: Down 0.84 per cent. The composite index lost 6.09 points to close at 718.47, and the blue-chip index was down 5.28 points to 512.55.

JAKARTA: Flat. The composite index rose 0.57 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 2,480.41.

Traders said that sentiment was unaffected as the central bank left its key interest rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent.

MANILA: Flat. The composite index shed 0.55 points or 0.02 per cent to 2,819.48 but the all-share index edged up 0.21 points or 0.01 per cent, to 1,790.41

Astro del Castillo of First Grade Holdings told Dow Jones Newswires that investors are awaiting fresh developments before taking a stronger stand.

MUMBAI: Down 1.56 per cent. The 30-share Sensex fell 268.14 points to 16,866.41. - AFP