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             Japan Shares Plunge 7% Following Negative Chinese Data

   Japanese share prices Thursday experienced their worst one-day decline
   in two years, following the release of unexpectedly negative Chinese
   manufacturing data.
   The Nikkei 225 index closed down 7.3 percent, ending 1,143 points lower
   than when the day began. It was the eleventh largest point drop in
   Nikkei history.
   Japan`s Topix index plummeted nearly 7 percent, the steepest one-day
   decline since Japan`s devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
   Earlier, a survey released by HSBC said China`s manufacturing in May
   contracted for the first time in seven months, raising new concerns
   about the sluggish recovery of the world`s second largest economy.
   Markets fared little better elsewhere in Asia. Sydney closed down
   nearly 2 percent. South Korean shares fell 1.2 percent. Shanghai and
   Hong Kong also were down.
   Investors also may have been affected by a statement Wednesday from
   U.S. Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke that the Fed could scale back
   on its massive stimulus measures if the U.S. economy improves over the
   coming months.
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   ive-chinese-data/1666634.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-shares-plunge-7-following-negative-chinese-data/1666634.html