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Asian shares down following Wall Street's lead Asian shares down following Wall Street's lead
(about 3 hours later)
Shares in Asia were trending downwards on Thursday following Wall Street's lead which ended its day lower.Shares in Asia were trending downwards on Thursday following Wall Street's lead which ended its day lower.
Stocks in the US broke their four-day winning streak after a fatal shooting in Canada's capital worried investors. The S&P 500 ended a four-day winning streak after a fatal shooting in Canada's capital worried investors.
A gunman killed a soldier at a war memorial in Ottawa and shots were fired in the parliament building.A gunman killed a soldier at a war memorial in Ottawa and shots were fired in the parliament building.
Some positive news for US investors came from Yahoo, however, after the technology giant saw its shares rise more than 4.5% in US trading.Some positive news for US investors came from Yahoo, however, after the technology giant saw its shares rise more than 4.5% in US trading.
The firm reported third-quarter profits of $6.8bn (£4.2bn) earlier this week, boosted by earnings from its stake in Alibaba.The firm reported third-quarter profits of $6.8bn (£4.2bn) earlier this week, boosted by earnings from its stake in Alibaba.
In Japan, the Nikkei index was trading lower in Thursday morning trade, down by just over 0.7%. In Japan, the Nikkei index was flat, reversing the morning's losses.
The slide into negative territory comes after a more upbeat day for the index on Wednesday when investor sentiment was boosted by official trade figures that showed a rapid increase in exports during September. It comes after a more upbeat day for the index on Wednesday when investor sentiment was boosted by official trade figures that showed a rapid increase in exports during September.
The world's third largest economy said its exports jumped 6.9% from a year earlier - the strongest rise for seven months - although official data showed its trade deficit for the month still widened.The world's third largest economy said its exports jumped 6.9% from a year earlier - the strongest rise for seven months - although official data showed its trade deficit for the month still widened.
One of only markets in Asia moving that was in positive territory on Thursday morning was Shanghai's CSI 300 Index, after manufacturing data from small and medium sized factories in China came in slightly ahead of expectations. Also in Japan, shares of Takata, a firm that makes airbags for cars, were down by more than 4% after US car safety regulators expanded a recall of vehicles with potentially dangerous Takata airbags to 7.8 million.
The index later moved downwards though by more than 0.2%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite, was lower 0.7% despite HSBC's factory purchasing managers index (PMI) reading for small and medium-sized factories in China coming in slightly ahead of expectations.
In South Korea, the Kospi index was hovering in negative territory in mid-morning trade, down by more than than 0.1%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index started the morning lower too, down by more than 0.4%. Investors do look out for numbers on China's factory activity, and while the HSBC reading was positive, up from 50.2 in September to 50.4 in October, sub index figures showed that factory output had fallen to a five month low.
In Australia, the ASX All Ordinaries index was in negative territory in the lead-up to midday, down by 0.2%, following Wall Street's lead and in line with other markets across the region. "While the manufacturing sector likely stabilised in October, [China's] economy continues to show signs of insufficient effective demand," HSBC said.
Elsewhere, the London market closed higher after a rise in insurance firm shares, together with positive results from the drugs giant, GlaxoSmithKline. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was also down more than 0.3%.
Shares in Glaxo jumped 2.6% after its core earnings beat analysts' forecasts. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.1%, falling from one-month highs, following Wall Street's lead.
While in South Korea, the Kospi index was hovering in negative territory, lower by 0.6%.