Updated on
Summary World markets mostly fell on Thursday, following big losses on Wall Street.
The deadline approaches for US lawmakers to strike a deal to avert a disastrous default. Adding to selling pressure was a decision by Standard & Poors to further downgrade Greeces credit rating, saying plans to restructure the countrys debt would entail a default.Tokyo tumbled 1.45 percent, or 145.84 points, to 9,901.35 as the economic uncertainty sent traders into the safe-haven yen, which hurts Japanese exporters.Sydney shed 1.62 percent, or 73.6 points, to 4,463.8 and Seoul gave up 0.85 percent, or 18.46 points, to end at 2,155.85 while Shanghai lost 0.54 percent, or 14.72 points, to 2,708.78. However, Hong Kong staged a late rally to close 0.13 percent, or 29.05 points, higher at 22,570.74.Wellington closed 0.46 percent, 15.56 points, lower at 3,396.79.Fletcher Building shed 1.5 percent to NZ$8.13 while Mainfreight rose 2.0 percent to NZ$10.35.Jakarta lost 0.68 percent, or 28.29 points, to end at 4,145.82.Kuala Lumpur fell 0.40 percent, or 6.26 points, to 1,551.91.Bangkok rose 0.32 percent, or 3.67 points, to 1,134.38.Indian shares fell 1.21 percent, with the benchmark 30-share Sensex index down 222.73 points to 18,209.52, its third straight day of losses.
