KUALA LUMPUR
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) fell 5.41 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 1,207.18, at the opening.

TOKYO
Japan's Nikkei share average slid 2 per cent on Thursday, led lower by exporters such as Honda Motor on a firmer yen and worries about a weak US economy, a major destination for world exports.

Bank shares including top lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group took a beating as concerns the credit crisis was tightening its grip on commercial banks hit their US counterparts.

The benchmark Nikkei was down 293.42 points to end morning trade at 14,159.40. The broader Topix slipped 2.1 per cent to 1,379.42. -- REUTERS