Asian Stocks Fall as U.S. Data Stokes Fed Exit Concern

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index heading for a third day of losses, after improving U.S. economic reports added to concern the Federal Reserve will scale back stimulus and as data painted a mixed picture about China’s manufacturing.

Nissan Motor Co., a Japanese carmaker that gets 34 percent of its sales in North America, slid 4 percent. Nomura Holdings Inc. paced losses among Japanese brokerages. Cochlear Ltd. slumped 18 percent after the Australian maker of implant systems for the hearing impaired said sales were weaker in the second half. China Foods Ltd., a maker of products including beverages, snacks and instant food, slumped 8.7 percent after saying it expects operating profit to fall.