Asian stock markets lackluster

Asian stock markets were lackluster Tuesday after weak Chinese trade and Japanese growth figures showed headwinds for the global economy. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 0.9 per cent to 17,699.52 and the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.5 per cent to 3,066.65. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.3 per cent to 1,877.33. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent to 20,662.52 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 1 per cent to 5,081.50. Share markets in Southeast Asia fell. Benchmark US crude was down $1.43 to $44.62 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell 70 cents on Monday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 40 cents to $48.03 in London. The euro rose to $1.1192 from $1.1168 in the previous global trading session. The dollar fell to 118.93 yen from 119.39 yen, according to AP.

-Shuvo-