Asian stocks fell on Monday as investors were jittery after a massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan on Friday.

Japanese stocks plummeted over six per cent in the morning trade while the yen rose in a volatile trade as the country battled hard to prevent multiple meltdowns at two of its nuclear reactors damaged by the earthquake and tsunami which is feared to have killed more than 10,000 people.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 plunged 617.18 points or 6.02 per cent to 9,637.25. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 117.68 points or 0.51 per cent to 23,132.10. Singapore’s Straits Times was down 14.99 points or 0.49 per cent at 3,028.50. South Korea’s Kospi was down 4.9 points or 0.25 per cent at 1,950.64.

Australia’s S&P/Asx 200 shed 24.3 points or 0.52 per cent to 4,620.50. China’s Shanghai Composite wsa down 0.49 points or 0.02 per cent at 2,933.31. Taiwan’s Taiex declined 93.85 points or 1.1 per cent to 8,473.97.

comment COMMENT NOW