Aeon Co. Ltd. led decliners in the Nikkei 225 index shares with a drop of 4.21% followed by losses in Kirin Holdings of 3.72%, in Mitsubishi Paper of 3.38%, in Konami Corp. of 2.91%, and Japan Tobacco of 2.72%.

Asahi to downsize in North America

Asahi Glass said today in a statement the company will close some factories in Iowa, Quebec and California as rising raw material costs and a U.S. housing slump take their toll in the sector.

The company is as a result expected to 900 jobs.

Asian markets review

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed higher 252.17 or 1.92% to 13,398.30, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased 380.61 or 1.59% closed to 24,258.96. In Australia ASX 200 index higher 48.70 or 0.89% to close 5,519.00. In Malaysia KL Composite index increased 2.90 or 0.23% closed to 1,256.54.

In South Korea Kospi Index increased 10.11 or 0.57% to close at 1,768.67, in Thailand SET index closed higher 12.05 or 1.45% to 845.43 and Indonesia JSE Index edged increased 3.86 or 0.16% to 2,341.78. Sensex index in India increased 237.01 or 1.46% to 16,481.20.