Asian stocks sink

Asian stock markets were weaker Thursday after Wall Street fell following a strong US job ads report that added to the case for the Fed's first rate hike in years. Japan's Nikkei 225 sagged 2.9 per cent to 18,234.67 one day after surging 7.7 per cent in its biggest gain since October 2008. South Korea's Kospi edged down 0.1 per cent to 1,931.98. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 2.2 per cent to 21,638.25 and China's Shanghai Composite Index declined 1.1 per cent to 3,207.37. Stocks in Australia and Southeast Asia were also lower. Benchmark US crude fell 56 cents to $43.59 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.79 to close at $44.15 a barrel on Wednesday in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many US refineries, lost 71 cents to $46.87 in London. The US dollar rose to 120.37 yen from 120.28 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1217 from $1.1219, according to AP.

-Shuvo-