China’s consumer price index rose 0.8% year-on-year in August, compared to expectations for a 1% increase in a Reuters poll. Meanwhile, the producer price index jumped 9.5% from a year ago, as compared to forecasts of a 9% rise in a Reuters poll.
Elsewhere, the Nikkei 225 in Japan closed 0.57% lower at 30,008.19 while the Topix index fell 0.71% to 2,064.93. South Korea’s Kospi declined 1.53% to end the trading day at 3,114.70.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.9% to close at 7,369.50.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 1.26%.
Overnight stateside, the Dow and S&P 500 fell for a third straight day, while the Nasdaq dropped for its first session in five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 68.93 points to 35,031.07 while the S&P 500 dipped 0.13% to 4,514.07. The Nasdaq Composite declined 0.57% to 15,286.64.
Currencies and oil
The Japanese yen traded at 110 per dollar, stronger than levels around 110.4 seen against the greenback yesterday. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7368, lower than levels above $0.74 seen earlier this week.
Oil prices were higher in the afternoon of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures rising 0.15% to $72.71 per barrel. U.S. crude futures gained about 0.1% to $69.34 per barrel.