Asian markets continue to sink after poor US data
Asian shares struggled on Tuesday in the wake of poor US data and continued instability in emerging markets.
Japan's Nikkei lost four per cent, breaking below the key technical 200-day moving average for the first time since November 2012 and bringing losses for 2014 to around 13 per cent.
Signs of slower growth in China and stimulus cuts by the US Federal Reserve have given investors little room for optimism.
Tokyo's Topix index sunk 8.4 per cent through yesterday.
Seoul's Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended by 1.7 per cent, hitting a five-month low as Asia-wide pessimism overshadowed upbeat economic data.