Asian stocks broadly lower

Asian markets were broadly lower on Monday as investors grew anxious
following news that more jobs than expected had been lost in the
United States. Tokyo fell 0.59 percent, Seoul 2.29 percent, Sydney
0.62 percent and Singapore 0.80 percent. Sentiment was depressed
after a 0.23 percent drop on Wall Street Friday triggered by news
the US economy shed 263 ,000 jobs in September, after a revised loss
of 201 ,000 in August. Unemployment rose to 9.8 percent. The
regional losses followed Friday's sell-off, which had came as dealers
grew nervous about the pending jobs data. Investors are also cautious
ahead of the US corporate earnings season, which begins this week.
However, Hong Kong's bourse rose 0.26 percent on bargain hunting
after recent heavy falls. Shanghai was closed for a public holiday.
TOKYO: Down 0.59 percent. The Nikkei-225 dropped 57.38 points to 9
, 674.49. Stocks are at their lowest level in almost 11 weeks. The
strength of the yen continued to weigh on exporters. Honda Motor fell
2.8 percent to 2 ,595 yen and Nikon declined 7.0 percent to 1 ,
442 yen. HONG KONG: Up 0.26 percent. The Hang Seng Index finished
53.58 points higher at 20 ,429. 07. SEOUL: Down 2.29 percent. The
KOSPI lost 37. 73 points at 1 , 606.90. Technology firms fell sharply
on concerns their earnings may peak in the third quarter and the
won's strength against the dollar may hurt their price
competitiveness. TAIPEI: Up 0.35 percent. The weighted index rose
26.10 points to 7 , 437.98. SINGAPORE: Down 0.80 percent. The
Straits Times Index fell 20.80 points to 2 , 583.73. Singapore
Telecommunications closed four cents lower at 3.17 dollars but
Singapore Airlines was six cents firmer at 13.12. DBS dropped 18
cents to 12.60 and United Overseas Bank rose 14 cents to 16.44.
BANGKOK: Down 0.84 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand lost 6.09
points to close at 718.47. KUALA LUMPUR: Up 0.85 percent. The Kuala
Lumpur Composite Index gained 10.20 points to 1 , 216.45. JAKARTA:
Flat. The Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.57 points, or 0.02
percent, to 2 ,480. 41. MANILA: Flat. The composite index shed 0.55
points or 0.02 percent to 2 , 819.48. MUMBAI: Down 1.56 percent. The
30- share Sensex fell 268.14 points to 16 , 866.41.