Asian shares down

Asian markets were mostly down on Tuesday as traders booked profits after the previous day’s rally. Tokyo stocks slipped 0.35 percent by the break, Hong Kong fell 0.35 percent, Sydney eased 0.42 percent and Seoul shed 0.19 percent but Shanghai was 0.32 percent higher. In Tokyo the benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 50.16 points to 14,425.14 by the break, while the Topix index of all first-section shares edged up 0.05 percent, or 0.59 points, to 1,163.63. In Shanghai, Chinese shares were down in morning trading on Tuesday because of concerns over the domestic economy and losses in US stocls, dealers said. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slid 0.36 percent, or 7.35 points, to 2,058.93. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, fell 0.56 percent, or 6.12 points, to 1,079.36. Seoul also shed 0.19 per cent and Hong Kong shares opened 0.33 percent lower today on profit-taking after the previous day’s healthy gains and following losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Index slipped 72.81 points to 21,773.64, according to AFP.