Asian stock markets close midweek lower

By Gokhan Ergocun

ANKARA (AA) - Major Asian stock markets were lower at Wednesday's close excluding India's Sensex.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, decreased by 1.42% to 3,427.98 points as of 1340GMT.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 0.37% to close at 27,501.86 points.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, also slipped 1.43% to 20,812.17 points.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange fell 0.39% to close at 3,280.49.

Meanwhile, the Singapore index dropped 1.13% to end the day at 3,280.82 points.

But India's Sensex benchmark rose 0.40% to close at 61,275.09.