Asian markets in red; Nikkei down 128pts

Asian markets are exhibiting weakness in early trades despite positive cues from the overnight US markets.

Japan's Nikkei has shed 128 points to 18,813. Hong Kong's Hang Seng has slipped 16 points to 21,938.

China's Shanghai Composite index has dropped 13 points to 4218.

The Straits Times index has plunged 28 points to 3611, and the Seoul Composite index has declined 23 points to 1772.

The Taiwan Weighted index, however, has gained eight points at 8660.