Asian shares extended losses on Thursday after disappointing earnings from technology giant Apple dragged on Wall Street, while the dollar firmed but remained shy of this week's nearly nine-month highs.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was down 0.9 percent in afternoon trade.
Japan's Nikkei share average dropped in choppy trade on Thursday as anxious investors waited on earnings results from major companies after Canon Inc , a key exporter, issued a profit warning due to the yen's recent strength.
The Nikkei fell 0.3 percent to 17,336.42 after flirting with positive territory earlier.
China stocks edged lower on Thursday, reversing some losses in the morning session, while investors remained cautious in the face of slowing industrial profit growth, persistent yuan weakness, and growing concerns over tighter liquidity.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.3 percent, to 3,345.70, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.1 pct to 3,112.35 points.
Hong Kong shares fell on Thursday as investors were spooked by an unexpectedly sharp drop in China's industrial profits.
The Hang Seng index fell 0.8 percent, to 23,132.35, while the China Enterprises Index lost 0.9 percent, to 9,608.91 points.
Reference: Reuters
Thai
Eng