Asian stock markets were mostly lower on Tuesday as weak economic data, falling commodity prices and big losses on Wall Street shook investors. A deadly bombing in the US also rattled confidence.
Pedestrians are reflected in a stock market indicator board in Tokyo on Tuesday. Tokyo stocks fell sharply at the morning trading session following US and China's economic datas and the Boston blasts. (EPA Photo)
The sell-off in markets was triggered by the Chinese government's report on Monday that growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to 7.7% in the first quarter from 7.9% in the final quarter of last year. Growth was expected to accelerate slightly to 8%t
The report stoked worries about the strength of China's economy at a time when US economic data has disappointed and Europe remains embroiled in its government debt crisis. It also pummeled oil and commodity prices.
A bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon that appeared timed for maximum casualties further fanned anxiety. Three people were killed and more than 140 injured. No one has claimed responsibility.
"China GDP data spooked investors into thinking that the world's second largest economy is slowing at a faster rate than anticipated,'' said Evan Lucas of IG Markets in Melbourne. "All these gyrations on commodity and currency markets were compounded further by the dreadful events in Boston.''
Mr Lucas said the markets were probably overreacting to the China growth news, but it creates a disquieting picture when coupled with last week's trade data showing some weakness in the country's exports.
The Thai stock market is closed on Tuesday for a public holiday.
Japan's Nikkei was down 0.1% at 13,265.01, recovering from sharp losses in the morning when the yen rose against the dollar.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6% to 21,648.15. South Korea's Kospi opened lower but flattened out by midday at 1,920.55. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3% to 4,953.30. Benchmarks in mainland China, New Zealand and the Philippines also fell. Indonesia, India, Singapore and Taiwan rose.
On top of the disappointing data from China were figures on Monday showing a drop in US homebuilder confidence. A separate report showed weak manufacturing in the Northeast. On Friday, the Commerce Department said retail sales fell 0.4% in March from the previous month, reinforcing views that the US recovery is losing some steam.
The negative news pummeled Wall Street on Monday, its worst day of the year. The Dow Jones industrial average down 1.8% to close at 14,599.20. The S&P 500 index fell 2.3% to 1,552.36. The Nasdaq composite dropped 2.4% to 3,216.49.
Concerns that Cyprus and other troubled European countries may sell gold to raise cash have also weighed on prices for precious metals. On Tuesday, gold continued its descent, dropping more than US$21 (819 baht) early in Asia to $1,339.50 an ounce. Gold has fallen sharply over recent trading sessions. It stood at $1,689 at the beginning of the year.
Gold-linked shares across the region fell. Hong Kong-listed Zijin Mining Group, China's biggest gold miner, fell 3%. In Australia, Kingsgate Consolidated tumbled 5.1% and Newcrest Mining fell 5.4%. Mining and resource shares were also hard hit. Hong Kong-listed Jiangxi Copper Co. slid 4.6%. PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas producer, shed 1.8%.
Korean Air Lines Co, South Korea's flagship carrier, sank 6.1%. Enthusiasm for airline shares has been damped by threatening rhetoric from North Korea in recent days.
The sharp decline in gold and fears about global growth reverberated throughout commodity markets. Benchmark oil for May delivery dived $1.39 to $87.32 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped $2.58, or 2.8%, to finish at $88.71 a barrel on Monday.