CALDEIRÃO DE BOLSA

Asian Stocks Fall to 3-Month Low on Consumer, Credit Concerns

By Makiko Suzuki and Chen Shiyin


A pedestrian walks past an electronic stocks board in Tokyo Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks slumped to a three-month low, led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., after the banks reported losses on investments related to U.S. subprime loans.

Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui, two of Japan's three biggest lenders, plunged to two-year lows. Toyota Motor Corp. and Westfield Group, the world's largest shopping center owner, slid after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. cut its profit forecast, adding to evidence that U.S. demand is cooling.

``The bearish camp that looks at this as a trigger for a real economic downturn seems to be growing,'' said Thue Isen, who manages about $1 billion in Asian equities at Bankinvest Group in Singapore. ``Risk has been re-packaged and traded between banks over the past few years and that makes it difficult for investors to have a good view on who has exposure.''

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. slumped to a 22-month low after Nokia Oyj offered to replace up to 46 million mobile-phone batteries produced by the company on concern they will overheat. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's largest miner, dropped to a nine- week low after metals prices declined.

The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific Index lost 2.2 percent to 146.01 at 2:35 p.m. in Tokyo, set for the lowest close since May 1. About nine stocks fell for each that rose. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid 2 percent to 16,512.93, halting a two-day advance. Sony Corp. led Japanese exporters lower as the yen rose to a four-month high against the dollar and the euro.