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Asian shares down following Wall Street's lead Asia shares down despite China factory data
(about 1 hour later)
Shares in Asia were trending downwards on Thursday, taking their lead from Wall Street, which ended its day lower. Asian shares were down on Thursday, taking their lead from losses on Wall Street, despite positive factory data from China.
Japan's Nikkei was flat, reversing the morning's losses, while shares in China and Hong Kong were down. Japan's Nikkei index closed down 0.4% at 15,138.96 points.
Earlier in the US, the S&P 500 ended a four-day winning streak after a fatal shooting in the Canadian capital unsettled investors. Earlier in the US, the S&P 500 ended a four-day winning streak after a fatal shooting in Canada's capital city unsettled 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.
The firm reported third-quarter profits of $6.8bn (£4.2bn) earlier this week, boosted by earnings from its stake in Alibaba.
The Nikkei's lull comes after a more upbeat day for the index on Wednesday, when Japanese investor sentiment was boosted by official trade figures that showed a rapid increase in exports during September.The Nikkei's lull comes after a more upbeat day for the index on Wednesday, when Japanese 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.
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. Shares of Takata, a firm that makes airbags for cars, were down by more than 6% after US car safety regulators expanded a recall of vehicles with potentially dangerous Takata airbags to 7.8 million.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was 0.7% lower, despite HSBC's factory purchasing managers index (PMI) reading for small and medium-sized factories in China coming in slightly ahead of expectations. China manufacturing expands
Investors pay attention to 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 mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was 0.8% lower, despite HSBC's purchasing managers' index (PMI) reading for small and medium-sized factories in China coming in slightly ahead of expectations.
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.
"While the manufacturing sector likely stabilised in October, [China's] economy continues to show signs of insufficient effective demand," HSBC said."While the manufacturing sector likely stabilised in October, [China's] economy continues to show signs of insufficient effective demand," HSBC said.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was also down more than 0.3%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was also down 0.4%.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.1%, falling from one-month highs, following Wall Street's lead. And in South Korea, the Kospi index was hovering in negative territory, lower by 0.6%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.1% lower, ending seven sessions of gains - its longest winning streak since August.
In South Korea, the Kospi closed down 0.3%, but losses were capped by a late rally in Hyundai Motor shares, which jumped almost 6% higher on earnings expectations.
The carmaker said its fourth-quarter profit would improve and that it was mulling a sizable increase in dividend rates.