Asian mkts end lower; Hang Seng down 160 pts

Asian markets ended lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.63% or 160.42 points at 25,449.79.    

Japan's Nikkei slid 1.13% or 159.22 points at 13,943.26.  

Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted declined 0.67% or 59.72 points at 8,866.62.   

South Korea's Seoul Composite declined 0.32% or 6.01 points at 1,848.    

However, China's Shanghai Composite advanced 2.17% or 77.69 points at 3,656.84. 

Asian markets @ 8:32 am

Asian markets were trading lower as financial stocks slipped and US markets closed sharply lower. Shanghai Composite was down 1.79 points or 0.05% at 3,577.35. Hang Seng fell 59.49 points or 0.23% at 25,550.72.

Japan's Nikkei 225 average was down 123.54 points or 0.88% at 13,978.94. Jakarta Composite was down 0.32% or 7.74 points at 2,374.96.

Straits Times fell 1.35% or 43.59 points at 3,185.36. Taiwan Weighted was down 0.55% or 49.37 pionts at 8,876.97

However, Seoul Composite was up 0.01% or 0.26 points at 1,854.27.