Asian stocks hit by European crisis

Worries about Europe’s debt crisis, signs of weak global growth and expectations of lower US corporate earnings sent Asian stocks down today.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index tumbled 1.7% to 8,625.26, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.4% to 20,850.25, and South Korea’s Kospi lost 1% at 1,958.41, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.4% to 4,488.30.