Stock markets across most of Asia fell Monday following declines on Wall Street last week amid investor pessimism over the U.S. government's stimulus plan to prevent a recession.A contraction in the American economy would likely hurt profits at Asian exporters, although rising trade and investment within the region has made Asia less dependent on the U.S. economy than in the past.
Investors sold off shares, unimpressed by the economic stimulus plan President Bush announced Friday. The plan, which requires approval by Congress, calls for about $145 billion worth of tax relief to encourage consumer spending.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index slid 3.9 percent to close at 13,325.94 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 3.5 percent in afternoon trading at 24,323.44.
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