Most Asian stock markets down at Tuesday's close

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Most major Asian stock markets closed lower on Tuesday as investors believe central banks could tighten policy more than previously expected to curb inflation.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, fell 0.97% to 3,390 points.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 decreased 0.21% to 27,473 points.

That came after Tuesday’s flash reading showed the au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index slipped to 47.4 in February.

The fall from January’s reading of 48.9 was the sharpest in two-and-a-half years, signaling solid deterioration in the manufacturing sector’s health.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, dove 1.71% to 20,529.

India’s Sensex benchmark was down 0.03% to close at 60,672, while the Singapore index dropped 0.06% to 3,306.86.

China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange, on the other hand, climbed 0.49% to 3,306.​​​​​​​