HONG KONG, Dec 1: Asian stocks were mainly lower on Monday as dealers remained cautious ahead of a slew of economic data from the United States, while also awaiting decisions on interest rates across the world.

Many investors were awaiting a decision in Washington on whether to bail out the Big Three carmakers in the US, who are appealing for help to save the nation’s ailing auto industry.

Meanwhile Japan’s central bank has said it is considering a raft of plans to boost Asia’s biggest economy as it battles the worst global financial crisis in decades.

Japan’s Nikkei was down 1.35 per cent, while Sydney and Seoul each lost 1.6 per cent and Singapore dived 2.44 per cent.

However, Hong Kong added 1.6 per cent, Shanghai 1.25 per cent and Taipei 1.3 per cent.

TOKYO: Japanese shares ended 1.35 per cent lower.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index dropped 115.05 points to finish at 8,397.22.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues lost 7.35 points or 0.88 per cent to end at 827.47.

Shares in carmakers fell on news that Japanese auto sales dropped to the lowest in nearly four decades in November, diving 27.3 percent to 215,783 units, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

Nissan Motor sank 2.8 yen to 308 yen, Honda slipped 2.9 per cent to 2,025 yen and Toyota Motor shed 1.8pc to 2,945 yen.

Real estate shares sank after apartment developer Morimoto collapsed with debts of 161.5 billion yen (1.70 billion dollars).

Mitsubishi Estate fell 5.6 per cent to 1,341 yen, while Mitsui Fudosan dropped 4.6 per cent to 1,399 yen.

Sanyo Electric jumped 8.6 per cent to 164 yen after a report said Panasonic will strike a deal this week to buy Goldman Sachs’ shares in the troubled electronics maker. Panasonic shares rose 0.4 per cent to 1,149 yen.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 1.6 per cent higher.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the session 220.60 points higher at 14,108.84, after trading between 13,659.44 and 14,253.66. Turnover was 43.93 billion Hong Kong dollars (5.63 billion US).

The index has risen 13 per cent since November 24.

China Overseas rose 9.6 per cent to $11.00.

SYDNEY: Australian shares dipped 1.6 per cent.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 61.3 points to 3,681.2 and the broader All Ordinaries lost 53.7 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 3,619.0.

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 2.44 per cent down.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index finished 42.34 points lower at 1,690.23.

Volume totalled 945 million shares worth 745 million Singapore dollars (493 million US).

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares closed 2.0 per cent lower.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index dropped 17.71 points to end the day at 848.43 with 3.96 million shares traded worth 740.39 million ringgit (204.1 million dollars).

Sime Darby fell 12.8 per cent to 5.10 ringgit while low cost carrier AirAsia dropped 12.2 to 0.98 ringgit along with Malaysian Airlines System, which dropped 1.6 per cent 2.53 ringgit.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended 1.5 per cent lower.

The Jakarta Composite Index fell 18.41 points to 1,223.13.

Top decliners included Bank Rakyat, which fell 6.6 per cent to 3,175 rupiah and Bank Danamon, which fell 2.9 per cent to 2,600.

Coal giant Bumi resources fell 6.9 per cent on profit taking after gaining 47pc last week.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares closed 1.03pc lower.

The benchmark NZX-50 index fell 28.03 points to 2,682.93 on turnover worth $40.42 million (US$21.9 million).

Market leader Telecom gave up almost all of last week’s gains to close down 16 cents at $2.33.

Air New Zealand was down two cents at 87 cents, Trust Power dropped 15 cents to $6.80, and discount retailer The Warehouse was down 18 cents at 3.45.

MUMBAI: Indian shares closed down 2.78 per cent, led by fears about US market performance amid the widening world recession.

The benchmark 30-share Sensex fell 252.85 points to 8,839.87.—AFP