Asian markets fell Thursday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.4 percent to 22,492.32, and the Kospi in South Korea dropped 0.1 percent to 2,288.89. Hong Kong's Hang Seng tumbled 1.2 percent to 26,911.65. The Shanghai Composite index was 0.7 percent lower at 2,686.81. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.2 percent to 6,154.20. Shares were lower in most of Southeast Asia. Benchmark U.S. crude lost 18 cents to $68.54 a barrel. It fell 1.6 percent to $68.72 a barrel in New York late Wednesday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gave up 11 cents to $77.16 a barrel. The dollar fell to 111.34 yen from 111.51 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.1626 from $1.1623.
