Asian stock markets fall, led by Hong Kong

Asian markets led losses, with Hong Kong stocks down 2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng led losses in Asia, falling 2% to hit a two-month low for the first time since March 20, below 19,000. All mainland Chinese markets fell, with both the Shanghai Composite Index down 0.52% and the Shenzhen Component Index down 0.68%. Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific markets were broadly lower on lingering concerns over U.S. debt ceiling talks and the Bank of Korea holding its benchmark interest rate steady for a third straight day. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.33% and the Kosdaq lost 0.42%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.54%, but the Topix was down marginally. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index also fell 0.85%, led by non-energy mining stocks. In Indonesia, economists expect the country's central bank to keep the seven-day reverse repo rate at 5.75 percent, while it is also set to announce its benchmark interest rate policy on Thursday.