Asian Stocks Extend January Rout After China Factory Data

Asian stocks fell, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average extending its slump from its close on the final day of 2013 to 10 percent, after a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing growth added to concern the global economic recovery is faltering.

Hokkaido Electric Power Co. slumped 9 percent, leading losses on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, as the Japanese utility forecast a full-year loss. Treasury Wine Estates Ltd. sank 3.6 percent in Sydney, extending last week’s 20 percent decline after the maker of Penfolds Grange wine said earnings fell. Fanuc Corp. advanced 3.3 percent in Tokyo after orders at the factory-robotics maker topped projections.