Beijing, China (BBN)-Markets in Asia moved mostly into negative territory on Thursday after New York closed lower, by a decline in Apple shares and energy companies.
After surging almost 8 per cent on Wednesday, Japan’s Nikkei was down 3.3 per cent at 18,140.7 points in early trade, reports BBC.
But investor sentiment across Asia in early morning trade was largely down on Thursday.
Analysts said losses were expected considering Wednesday’s gains.
Japan’s core machinery orders, which are a key indicator of capital expenditure, fell by 3.6 per cent in July compared with June.
The renewed decline suggested that business investment may fall yet again this quarter, economists said.
The number “was weaker than anyone polled by Bloomberg had expected”, said Japan economist Marcel Thieliant, adding that orders were the lowest since November 2014.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was down 2.2 per cent at 5,104.9 points, following Wall Street lower after two sessions of gains.
The Australian dollar fell together with the New Zealand dollar on Thursday after New Zealand’s central bank cut interest rates to 2.75 per cent and said it may introduce further easing measures to boost its flagging economy.
BBN/SK/AD