Asia stocks struggle on Italy fears

Asian stock markets struggled to advance today as worries intensified that Italy could become the next domino to fall in Europe’s debt crisis.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2% to 8,751.86, South Korea’s Kospi was 0.3% lower at 1,914.33 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.6% to 19,787.10. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was 0.4% higher at 4,290.30.