Asia Stocks Fall as Investors Weigh Timing of Fed Taper

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark gauge sliding for the first time in three days, as investors weighed the timing of a reduction in the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented stimulus.

OZ Minerals Ltd. slumped 14 percent to the lowest close since 2002 after the Australian copper miner forecast production will be lower than estimates. Mazda Motor Corp., a carmaker that gets 30 percent of sales in North America, slipped 1 percent as the yen gained. China Coal Energy Co., the nation’s No. 2 coal producer, dropped 3.9 percent in Hong Kong after the government said it plans to curb consumption of the fuel in some areas. Mixi Inc. slumped 17 percent after the Japanese social-network operator was downgraded at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.