Economics
Asian Stocks Drop as China Data Prompts Tightening Speculation
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Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index sliding the most in almost two months, as Chinese economic reports prompted speculation the country will do more to fight inflation and U.S. earnings disappointed.
BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s No. 1 mining company that counts China as its biggest market, dropped 1.9 percent as commodity prices slumped. China Merchants Holdings International Ltd., which has interests in ports moving about a third of the country’s container traffic, dropped 4.1 percent in Hong Kong. James Hardie Industries SE, the biggest seller of home siding in the U.S., declined 2 percent in Sydney, set for its longest losing streak since July 2009.