Feels like 'Armageddon': Asian markets to plunge

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BANGKOK - Asian shares nose dived Monday as the first downgrade of the credit rating of the US Government had to the global financial system, strengthening fears, which is the world economy weaknesses.

Trading below $84 a barrel on expectations that weaker growth of in global demand for crude oil will crimp expands oil prices, the recent sharp losses. The dollar was lower against the yen and the euro. $ Affected also a record low against the Swiss franc from 0.7485 cents to the dollar - a drop of almost 30 percent over the previous year.

Tokyo's Nikkei closed 2.2% and the MSCI broad index of the Asia Pacific shares outside of Japan fell 4.2 percent, take its losses for the month so far more than 12 percent.

Hong Kong Hang Seng index finished 2.17 percent on 20,490.57. China enterprises index ended 2.81 percent to 11,113.45.

The Shanghai composite index its records largest single day loss since November last year, finishing 3,79 percent to 2,526.82.

"It is not Armageddon, but it feels like it," said Hong Kong-based analyst Francis LUN, added, that he the area Hang Seng index looks to below 19,000 - a decline by a further 5 percent - before he any kind of comeback.

Futures on the losses on Wall Street at opening Monday. Dow Futures was 2.1 per cent to 11,167, while the broader standard & poor's 500 futures fell 2.4 percent to 1.168.

At 6 am (ET) was Britain's FTSE 100 index of leading British shares up 1.7 percent to 5,160, while the French CAC 40 fell 2 percent to 3,214. Germany's DAX is 2.3 percent to 6,096.

However, Monday, after the European Central Bank signaled that it would buy bonds of the two countries, cut their borrowing costs rose by Spanish and Italian markets.

Late Sunday, the Central Bank said it would implement "active" his bond purchase to calm program investor concerns that Italy and Spain will be unable to pay their debts.

At 3:45 am (ET) Milan FTSE MIB was 3 percent growth to 2.4 percent during Spain.

Investors took refuge in assets traditionally viewed as safe havens in times of financial crisis, slide to a new high of $1,714 gold an ounce.

"There are some places you can... obviously hide and those, which you in can hide are very good." Is gold the beneficiary, because there is no Central Bank selling, ", said Greg Gibbs, strategist at RBS in Sydney."

Bank shares have been corrupted by fears area heavy losses could face as the sovereign debt crisis in Europe continues to brew. Industrial and commercial bank of China, the world's largest bank by market value, fell 4.2 percent. Port-operators - the lifeblood of the show and exports would be compromised if the global economy goes bust - were badly stung. Hong Kong-listed China shipping container lines co. fell to 9.7 percent.

Meanwhile a strengthening suggested yen, which makes Japanese products more expensive, if they are sent abroad, the country's powerhouse export sector. Hitachi Corp. fell by 4 percent. Sony fell by 3.8 per cent. 3.1% Lost Mazda Motor Corp..

Standard & poor's downgrade of the U.S. sovereign credit rating of AA + from first-class AAA, announced late Friday, was still yet another blow to confidence in the struggling US economy. It adds to growing fears that the world economy no. 1 can be directed in the recession.

These fears have exacerbated signs that Europe's government debt crisis threatens to consume larger economies such as Italy and Spain.

'Calm down'
David Cohen of the action of economy in Singapore, Friday said not surprisingly came the warnings, issued by the Agency weeks in advance downgrade - but that it can serve Government measures as a wake-up call for heads of State.

"People quickly enough can soothe, as long it is not a more global financial crisis," said Cohen.

Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S & P/ASX 200 index fell 2.9 percent to 3,986.10. dived Singapore's benchmark 4.7 per cent and 3.8 percent pushed the Taiwan market.

"I think it is still a question of people is carefully given they do not really know how wild are these overseas markets react," Westpac Banking Corporation Chief Economist of Bill Evans said Australian Broadcasting Corporation television.

"I would expect that people will take the risk off the table at the moment some wait for greater clarity in the two big questions: how will the U.S. answer downgrading and will settle the Europeans down these concerns in Europe?" he said.

Search avert panic spread through financial markets, Declaration finance officials from the Group of seven developed countries a common late Sunday saying they were committed, all necessary measures, financial stability and support growth.

The G-7 statement came after the Group an emergency conference call the debt crisis in Europe and market prospects following the announcement that discuss held the first downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.

The burst of activity underscores how government debt in Europe and have - unsettled the financial markets United States and sharpened fears that debt problems global recovery from the financial crisis could derail 2007-2009.

Story: Parties ratchet up the blame on downgrade

Pending before the version later this week by China's consumer price index July was also investor nerves fray. Inflation rose to a three-year high of 6.4 percent in June and is politically dangerous for the ruling Communists, because it can fuel pump unrest.

The Dow fell 5.8 percent last week in the midst of dour U.S. business news. The worst day for the Dow plunged it 513 points on Thursday alone, since the global financial crisis broke out in 2008.

MSNBC.com staff, Reuters and the associated press contributed to this report.

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Japan stocks plunge on the first trading day after quake

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BANGKOK - the Tokyo Stock market crashed waste to cities on the coast of Japan's Northeast Monday, his first business day after an earthquake and tsunami of epic proportions, caused tens of billions of dollars in damage. Other Asian markets were mostly down.

Oil prices dropped in the vicinity of $99 per barrel, after the disaster threatens the world's third largest economy in a recession, send demand for crude oil crimping. In currencies, the dollar against the yen and the euro fell.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average dived 633.94 points or 6.18 percent, to close - 9,620.49 wipe out achievements in 2011 when the collision with the lowest level in four months. On Friday, including massive power deficiencies that could interfere with factories, a broad sell-off raised concerns about the economic effects of the disaster, which hit all sectors. The broader Topix index fell by 7.5 per cent.

Shares of several large corporations sell orders were overwhelmed with and had still trade. The Tokyo Electric Power Co. was set up under which, from double-digit fall, since it with to rollenden power outages in parts of Tokyo and its suburbs announce faulty nuclear reactors and a lack of power who fought the company led.

Do with nuclear power companies such as those that build nuclear power plants, registered staggering losses, including Hitachi Ltd., to 16.2 per cent, and Toshiba Corp., down 16.3 percent. Mitsubishi heavy industries fell by 10 percent and Kobe steel Ltd., fell 6.4 per cent.

Shares in other sectors was also big hits as investors shares on concerns about the economic production and consumption threw. Automakers slipped as Northeastern Japan one of the most important centres for automatic production is complete with a variety of suppliers and a network of roads and ports for the efficient distribution.

Large manufacturer stopped production around the country. Toyota Motor Corp., the world's largest automaker, fell 7.9 percent; Honda lost 6.5%; and Nissan fell 9.5 percent. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. lost 11.8% and Isuzu Motors Ltd. fell 9.2 percent.

Insurance companies - many of which face is severe claims for lost objects and infrastructure probably - was also sharp drops, including Tokio Marine Holdings Inc., by 12.4 percent. Cosmo oil, whose refinery of the 8, 9-brightness-quake, slipped by devastating 21.6 percent to fire since is.

Analysts said that the forecast for the Japanese economy in the close future strong whether it might depending on the affected nuclear power plant of avert Fukushima Dai-Ichi reactor of meltdowns to. Damage reported four nuclear plants in the north-eastern Japan, but the danger was greatest in the Dai-Ichi plant.

"All costings, economic and humanitarian, remain easy depending on the resolution of the difficulties on nuclear power facilities, where two reactors are believed, have experienced to partial meltdowns." Authorities have in the facilities, which lost to coolant earthquake replace sea water pumps and prevent so on meltdown. The degree to which this was successfully vague remains, "said analysts at DBS Bank Ltd., in Singapore in a report."

Meanwhile, the industrial and business rose on expectations that they benefit from Japan's reconstruction efforts. Japanese construction company Kajima Corporation rose by 22.2% and Nishimatsu construction co., Ltd. jumped 19.3 percent.

Quake death toll surges in Japan result that massive earthquake and tsunami increased the death toll from Friday Monday as some 2,000 bodies found were Miyagi, Kyodo news on both sides in the Agency reported. New explosion nuclear power plant increased fears Japan nuclear health risks is low, not blow in the overseas international rescue effort gathers in Japan Japan's earthquake: such as to show images help Japanese quake, identity Dateline NBC Keith Morrison presents a photographic essay emotional images hit, emerged from the aftermath of the earthquake of Japan and resonate with their national identity.  Japan earthquake aftershocks Quake since the first 8, 9-brightness, has Japan has been added by scores of aftershocks. See on this map. Pictures of chaos, destruction, 8, 9-magnitude quake, tsunami cause enormous damage.

Elsewhere, lost Hong Kong Hang Seng index 0.2 percent to 23,204.06 during South of Korea's Kospi by 0.8 per cent to 1,971.23. mainland China Shanghai composite index rose less than 0.1 per cent to 2,935.41. The Shenzhen composite index of China's Exchange smaller, second rose by 0.9 per cent to 1,310.99.

Shares in Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines were lower. Benchmarks in Indonesia and Thailand increased.

The Bank of Japan, earlier Monday, injected money markets to try to defend the already weak economy a record 15 trillion yen ($ 183,8 billion). By flooding the banking system with cash, money hopes the Central Bank further banks borrow and meet the increase probably demand after the earthquake Fund. A one day policy meeting of the Central Bank is to to stop later Monday.

On Wall Street on Friday finished stocks down in the week with modest gains. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 59.79 points, or 0.5 percent to 12,044.40. The S & P 500 rose 9.17 or 0.7 percent to 1,304.28. The NASDAQ Composite gained 14.59 or 0.5 percent to 2,715.61.

The prospect of a decline in demand for oil from Japan crude oil prices sent down $1.57, to $99.59 per barrel. In addition to the earthquake, oil prices fell for a scheduled day protests in Saudi Arabia drew only a few hundred people. Oil traders were worried the violence in the Middle East and North Africa to the world's number one oil exporter would spread.

Benchmark crude oil April delivery declined $1.79 at $99.37 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost $1.54 to $101.16 on Friday.

The yen emerged shortly after Friday quake, but then restored. The dollar was brought on Monday after hitting a three week high of 83.30 yen immediately after the earthquake lower against the yen to 82.07. euro $1.3933 $1.3890 late Friday.

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