Asia markets decline; energy stocks fall as oil extends losses

The Nikkei 225 tumbled 1.28 percent on the back of five consecutive negative sessions. Most sectors fell, with energy-related stocks recording steep losses as oil prices declined further: Inpex tumbled 4.32 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration sank 4.39 percent.

Wednesday data showed the Japanese economy grew at a 1.4 percent annualized rate in the third quarter, topping the 1.3 percent forecast, Reuters reported. GDP rose 0.3 percent in that period, compared to the three months prior.

Across the Korean Strait, the Kospi was off 0.24 percent. Blue-chip tech stocks edged down, but automakers held above the flat line: Samsung Electronics slid 0.89 percent and Hyundai Motor rose 0.31 percent.

Down Under, the S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.48 percent, extending losses made in the last session. Energy stocks dragged on the broader market after oil prices declined: Beach Energy tumbled 3.39 percent and Santos lost 2.57 percent. Resource stocks were also in the red after economic data from China on Tuesday missed expectations.

Greater China markets came under pressure with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index off 0.74 percent. Mainland markets were also lower: The Shanghai Composite lost 0.71 percent and the Shenzhen Composite lost 1.27 percent.

“Shell’s exit from the Woodside register [on Tuesday] proved to be one of the leading catalysts for a bout of profit taking on the Australian stock market,” Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said in a note.

In contrast to a slew of Chinese data points missing forecasts on Tuesday, economic reports released overnight in Europe was more upbeat. The 0.8 percent third-quarter growth print in Germany topped the 0.6 percent forecast in a Reuters poll.

In response, the common currency spiked as high as $1.1805 in the last session — its highest levels in almost three weeks. At 12:27 p.m. HK/SIN, the euro traded at $1.1792.

“[W]hile the GDP print provided the initial catalyst, the velocity of the move suggests that investors are finally discounting the European Central Bank’s dovish guidance in the face of stronger economic data,” Stephen Innes, Asia Pacific head of trading at OANDA, said in a note.

Elsewhere, U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday said their tax plan will involve the repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate that requires most Americans to have some form of health coverage. Markets are concerned about whether or not the tax plans can be passed before the year ends.

Investors also awaited the release of U.S. CPI and retail sales data due Wednesday during American hours.

Shares of Hon Hai Precision Industry fell 2.83 percent after the company reported that its third-quarter profit slid 39 percent compared to the year before. The fall in quarterly earnings was due to delays in product shipments, Reuters said.

One police officer was killed on Wednesday and another injured near Freeport-McMoRan’s copper mine in Papua, Indonesia, Reuters said, citing local police. The company had shut the access road to the mine following a shooting incident on Tuesday, Reuters added. That road had been closed just days earlier on Sunday following previous shooting incidents.

Japanese banks were also in the spotlight after Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group reported quarterly earnings on Tuesday. Of note, several of Japan’s largest banks said they would be cutting costs by reducing headcount or turning to automation, Reuters said. Financials broadly traded lower: MUFG was down 0.93 percent, SMFG fell 1.78 percent and Mizuho Financial lost 1.56 percent.