Stocks fall amid European debt risk

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.

Tokyo lost 0.4% to 8,442.5 while China’s benchmark Shanghai index edged up 0.1% to 2,191.23. Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and Jakarta declined. Hong Kong and Sydney were closed.