Asian markets weak; Nikkei ends down 216pts

Asian markets were mostly in red amid profit taking coupled with concerns about the extent of the deteriotation of the US housing market.

The Nikkei ended with a loss of 216 points at 17,236. The Hang Seng has shed 134 points at 20,438.

The Taiwan Weighted index plunged 60 points to 7985. The Seoul Composite index slipped 11 points to 1546, and the  Straits Times was down five points at 3369.

The Shanghai Composite index, however, was up 15 points at 3736.