Asian markets ended lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng felll 0.29% or 64.53 points at 22,237.11.  

Japan's Nikkei tumbled 1.54% or 191.84 points at 12,241.60.  

Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted plunged 0.60% or 49.60 points at 8,161.39.  

South Korea's Seoul Composite declined 0.95% or 15.36 points at 1,600.26.    

However, Singapore's Straits Times was up 1.19% or 33.46 points at 2,839.01. 

Asian markets @ 8:42 am

Asian mkts off early highs

Asian markets were off early highs.  Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.16% or 35.50 points at 22,337.14. Japan's Nikkei 225 average reversed its gained 0.50% or 12.60 points at 12,370.84. Straits Times jumped 11.33 points or 0.40% at 2816.28.

Seoul Composite was down 0.96% or 15.45 points at 1,600.17. Taiwan Weighted is down 0.41% or 33.72 points at 8,177.27.

However, Shanghai Composite lost 1.07% or 42.568 points at 3,928.689. Jakarta Composite fell 0.57% or 13.85 points at 2,426.73.