Global stocks mostly fall after Wall Street’s slide

Associated Press

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 | 1:20 a.m.

TOKYO — Global shares mostly fell in thin trading Thursday, taking their cues from a slide on Wall Street. A stronger yen helped send Japanese stocks lower.

KEEPING SCORE: France's CAC 40 lost 0.5 percent to 4,822.78 in early trading, while Germany's DAX fell 0.5 percent to 11,416.75. Britain's FTSE 100 sank 0.3 percent to 7,086.44. U.S. shares were set to drift lower with Dow futures down nearly 0.1 percent at 19,763. S&P 500 futures were down 0.05 percent at 2,244.10.

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 1.3 percent to finish at 19,145.14, as the strengthening yen, which reduces export earnings, weighed on market sentiments. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 recouped earlier losses and rose 0.3 percent to 5,699.10. South Korea's Kospi inched up 0.1 percent to 2,026.46. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.2 percent to 21,795.02, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.2 percent at 3,096.10. Shares were also lower in Taiwan.

TAKATA JUMPS: Shares of Takata Corp., the Japanese air bag manufacturer at the center of a massive recall, surged 16 percent amid speculation that it will reach a settlement as soon as next month with U.S. authorities on criminal charges related to its air bag troubles. Sixteen deaths around the world have been linked to Takata air bag inflators that can explode with too much force.

TOSHIBA PLUNGES: Toshiba Corp.'s shares plunged 17 percent, their third straight day of double-digit losses after the company said it anticipates huge losses related to its acquisition of Chicago Bridge & Iron.

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 1.3 percent to finish at 19,145.14, as the strengthening yen, which reduces export earnings, weighed on market sentiment. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 recouped earlier losses, gaining 0.3 percent to 5,699.10. South Korea's Kospi inched up 0.1 percent to 2,026.46. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.2 percent to 21,795.02, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.2 percent at 3,096.10. Shares were also lower in Taiwan.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude fell 30 cents to $53.76 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, was down 1cent to $56.95 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: In currency trading, the dollar fell to 116.37 yen, down from 117.62 yen late Wednesday in Asia. The euro fell to $1.0454 from $1.0468.