Asian markets weak; Nikkei ends down 113pts

Asian markets were mostly in negative territory today.

The Nikkei ended with a loss of 113 points at 17,386. The Hang Seng has shed 214 points to 20,781, and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 42 points to 4007.

The Straits Times index slipped 23 points to 3503. The Taiwan Weighted and Seoul Composite indices were marginally in red at 8034 and 1614, respectively.