Asian stocks sink amid US recession fears

Stock markets in Asia have opened sharply lower amid signs of a possible US recession and renewed worries over the financial health of Europe’s banks.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index slumped 2.1% at 8,751.67. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 2.8% to 19,489.35 and South Korea’s Kospi index plummeted 4.7% to 1,776.11.