Downward on Asian Stock Exchanges

It was downward, in most cases however slightly downward, for leading stock market indices in Asia during Wednesday's trading just before lunchtime.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index was at minus 0.2 percent and the broader Topix was down 0.1 percent.

For the composite indices in Shanghai and Shenzhen, the development was similar, down 0.2 and just below zero, respectively. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index showed a slightly stronger decline, minus 0.9 percent, and in South Korea, the Kospi index stood at minus 0.5 percent.