Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Shares in Japanese carmaker Nissan fell on Thursday after the company confirmed it was in talks to take a major stake in embattled rival Mitsubishi Motors.
Nissan shares fell 1.4 per cent while Mitsubishi Motors was suspended from trading after news emerged of the possible tie-up, reports BBC.
Japan's Nikkei 225 was down 0.5 per cent to 16,497.62 points.
Trader sentiment was weighed down by a disappointing close on Wall Street overnight.
The negative lead from the US also affected Asia's other main markets.
China's Shanghai Composite was down 2 per cent to 2,782.26 points while Hong Kong's Hang Seng traded 0.4 per cent lower at 19,978.08.
In Australia, the ASX/200 fell 0.6 per cent to 5,341.60 points.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index was flat at 1,977.68.
BBN/SK/AD