Asian markets are broadly lower at mid-day, taking cue from overnight Wall Street losses on concern that European Union (EU) policymakers might not reach a consensus for a solution to contain the deepening eurozone debt woes at a crucial meeting later today.

The Malaysian and Singaporean stock markets are spared, nevertheless, as they are closed for trading due to the Deepavali festival.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down 144.5 points to 18,853.70, while Japan’s Nikkei lost 56.49 points to 8,705.82 and South Korea’s Kospi lost 5.52 points to 1,883.13, at mid-day trade.

Shanghai’s A share index was up 22.62 points to 2,432.29 on speculation that the Chinese government would loosen its monetary policy to boost growth in view of the current global slowdown.

Nymex crude oil eased slightly by around 23 US cents to US$92.94 per barrel at mid-morning, while spot gold rose about US$9.28 to US$1,714.85 per ounce.–The Star