Asian shares fell and the euro hovered near three-week lows against the dollar on Wednesday, as Greece’s call for a referendum rekindled investors’ worries about the viability of a European debt deal reached just last week. This in turn drove investors to shed riskier assets.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 170.32 points or 1.93 per cent to 8,665.20. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng plunged 247.02 points or 1.28 per cent to 19,122.94. Singapore’s Straits Times was up 2.12 points or 0.08 per cent at 2,791.47. South Korea’s Kospi fell 24.04 points or 1.26 per cent to 1,885.59.
Australia’s S&P/Asx 200 lost 28.90 points or 0.68 per cent to 4,204.00. China’s Shanghai Composite was down 27.60 points or 1.12 per cent at 2,442.42. Taiwan’s Taiex declined 83.17 points or 1.09 per cent to 7,538.84.