Asian stocks fall as Paris attacks sends economic worries

TOKYO — Asian stocks fell, opening the global trading day Monday after terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday last week sent worries across the world about their possible economic effects.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 cascaded downward 0.8 percent to 19,443.68 in morning trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost nearly 0.7 percent to 5,017.30. South Korea’s Kospi was down nearly 1 percent at 1,954.47. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.7 percent to 22,013.34 while the Shanghai Composite slipped 1.6 percent to 3,522.46. Taiwan shares were also down.

PARIS WORRIES: The attacks left 129 people dead and more than 350 injured. Investors, already nervous about slowing growth in China and the future of the eurozone, are fretting about stocks and oil prices. Travel could slow not only to Paris but other major cities, hurting airlines and other related businesses. A decline in tourism in Europe could weaken the euro.

THE QUOTE: “The Paris attack over the weekend may trigger risk aversion in the early part of the week. We may thus see a knee-jerk reaction in asset markets today,” says Cynthia Jane Kalasopatan of the Singapore Treasury Division at Mizuho Bank.

TRAVEL ISSUES: Qantas Airways fell 3.7 percent in morning trading. Japan Airlines fell nearly 3 percent, while ANA Holdings slipped 2.7 percent. Major Japanese travel company HIS Co. dropped 4.7 percent.

WALL STREET: On Friday, before the attacks happened, a streak of six consecutive weeks of gains was broken on fears the holiday shopping season will be a dud. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 202.83 points, or 1.2 percent, to 17,245.24. The Standard & Poor’s 500 gave up 22.93 points, or 1.1 percent, to 2,023.04. The Nasdaq composite index slipped 77.20 points, or 1.5 percent, to 4,927.88.

ENERGY: U.S. crude added 13 cents to $40.87 a barrel. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, was also up 13 cents to $44.60 a barrel.

CURRENCIES: The euro declined to $1.0717 from $1.0751 late last week, while the dollar edged down to $122.53 yen from $122.67 yen late last week. TVJ

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