China’s economy showed further signs of softening in July despite a burst of government stimulus measures, suggesting more policy support may be needed to keep growth on track as a property downturn worsens.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower today amid worries about weak Christmas sales in the United States and Europe and a warning by Japan’s central bank about possible risks from the European debt crisis.

Debt-burdened Dubai insisted today that it took into account the effect its bid to delay paying creditors would have on world markets.