Credit: Shutterstock photoAsian markets closed lower on Wednesday, with the Hang Seng the region's biggest loser after a health scare was sparked by local officials, who said they were testing a woman for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
The woman has recently returned from a trip to South Korea, where the disease has killed nine people, according to a statement by the Hong Kong health department. The index closed 1.1% lower for the day.
The Nikkei also fell Wednesday, after comments by Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda that Japan's real effective exchange rate was "very weak" caused the yen to surge, hurting exporters.
Meanwhile, stocks in China fell after MSCI Inc. held off from adding mainland shares to its benchmark indexes.
Australia ASX All Ordinaries +6.30 +0.11% 5,486.00
Shanghai SE Composite Index -7.50 -0.15% 5,106.04
Hang Seng -293.45 -1.09% 26,696.07
Nikkei 225 -49.94 -0.25% 20,046.36
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
