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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Asian shares slide as fears grow | Asian shares slide as fears grow |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Asian stocks have fallen, taking their lead from weaker US shares, which have hit a fresh 12-year low. | Asian stocks have fallen, taking their lead from weaker US shares, which have hit a fresh 12-year low. |
| In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei index dropped 3.5%, with markets in Australia and South Korea also lower. | In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei index dropped 3.5%, with markets in Australia and South Korea also lower. |
| Markets were hit by disappointment that China did not unveil new stimulus measures on Thursday and fears that General Motors might not survive. | Markets were hit by disappointment that China did not unveil new stimulus measures on Thursday and fears that General Motors might not survive. |
| Investors are also anxious ahead of the publication of unemployment figures in the US later on Friday. | Investors are also anxious ahead of the publication of unemployment figures in the US later on Friday. |
| "[The] unemployment data is not going to be beautiful. Things are not going to improve quickly," Lucinda Chan, at Macquarie Private Wealth in Sydney, told Reuters. | "[The] unemployment data is not going to be beautiful. Things are not going to improve quickly," Lucinda Chan, at Macquarie Private Wealth in Sydney, told Reuters. |
| The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 281.40 points or 4.09% at 6,594.44 on Thursday. | The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 281.40 points or 4.09% at 6,594.44 on Thursday. |
| Japan woes | Japan woes |
| In Japan, exporters' stocks tumbled on Friday, amid fears that the strengthening yen would make their products uncompetitive. | In Japan, exporters' stocks tumbled on Friday, amid fears that the strengthening yen would make their products uncompetitive. |
| The Nikkei closed down 260.4 points at 7,173.1. | The Nikkei closed down 260.4 points at 7,173.1. |
| Shares in Honda Motor, the country's second-biggest car company, fell 3.8%. | Shares in Honda Motor, the country's second-biggest car company, fell 3.8%. |
| Shares in Mizuho Financial Group, Japan's second-largest bank, slipped 2.7%, taking their lead from sharp falls in Citigroup stock in the US, which fell below $1 for the first time on Thursday. | Shares in Mizuho Financial Group, Japan's second-largest bank, slipped 2.7%, taking their lead from sharp falls in Citigroup stock in the US, which fell below $1 for the first time on Thursday. |
| "If you see fire breaking out in someone else's house, it causes worries about your own, too. The latest development in the US corporate sector is very worrisome," said YS Rhoo, a market analyst at Hyundai Securities in Seoul. | "If you see fire breaking out in someone else's house, it causes worries about your own, too. The latest development in the US corporate sector is very worrisome," said YS Rhoo, a market analyst at Hyundai Securities in Seoul. |
| US shares were knocked when auditors expressed "substantial doubt" that General Motors could stay afloat. Shares in the carmaker closed down more than 15%. | US shares were knocked when auditors expressed "substantial doubt" that General Motors could stay afloat. Shares in the carmaker closed down more than 15%. |
| 'Signs of recovery' | 'Signs of recovery' |
| Investor hopes that China would expand its stimulus package had pushed markets higher earlier in the week, but shares fell around the world on Thursday when Premier Wen Jiabao failed to announced any expansion of the package. | Investor hopes that China would expand its stimulus package had pushed markets higher earlier in the week, but shares fell around the world on Thursday when Premier Wen Jiabao failed to announced any expansion of the package. |
| "The market had also hoped to hear news from China on new stimulus measures as it opened parliament yesterday, but nothing clearly came out," Kazuhiro Takahashi at Daiwa Securities SMBC told AFP. | "The market had also hoped to hear news from China on new stimulus measures as it opened parliament yesterday, but nothing clearly came out," Kazuhiro Takahashi at Daiwa Securities SMBC told AFP. |
| Zhou Xiaochuan, China's central bank chief, said on Friday that he saw signs of a recovery and that officials would act sooner rather than later to revive the economy. | Zhou Xiaochuan, China's central bank chief, said on Friday that he saw signs of a recovery and that officials would act sooner rather than later to revive the economy. |
| Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 289.7 points, or 2.4%, to 11,921.5. | |
| In Australia, the ASX 200 index 43.0 points, or 1.4%, to close at 3,145.5, which was its lowest close since August 2003. | In Australia, the ASX 200 index 43.0 points, or 1.4%, to close at 3,145.5, which was its lowest close since August 2003. |
| South Korea's Kospi index recovered from falling as much as 2% during the day to close down only 0.3% at 1,055.0. | South Korea's Kospi index recovered from falling as much as 2% during the day to close down only 0.3% at 1,055.0. |
| The Sensex in Mumbai also recovered from a 1.8% early drop to trade up 134.9 points, or 1.7%, at 8,332.8. |