Asian stock markets fell Tuesday, hit by a sagging Wall Street and deadlocked Greek bailout negotiations. More weak Chinese economic data further clouded the gloomy outlook, AP reported. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 1.4 percent to 20,168.88 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.1 percent to 27,023.59. The Shanghai Composite shed 0.9 percent to 5,086.65 while South Korea's Kospi edged 0.1 percent lower to 2,062.24. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.4 percent to 5,477.90. Shares in Southeast Asia and Taiwan also were lower. China's inflation benchmark slipped to 1.2 percent in May from 1.5 percent the month before, signaling weak demand and continued deflationary pressures. That followed Monday's report that both imports and exports contracted again in May. The string of lackluster data is adding to pressures for further stimulus to prevent the slowdown becoming a sharp slump. Benchmark U.S. crude gained 27 cents to $58.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell 99 cents Monday to close at $58.14 a barrel in New York after import data suggested a slowdown in Chinese trade, which could lead to weaker global demand for diesel, gasoline and other fuels. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, rose 28 cents to $63.51 a barrel. It fell 62 cents to close at $62.69 in London on Monday. The U.S. dollar slipped to 124.36 yen from 124.62 yen on Monday. The euro climbed to $1.1319 from $1.1278.
