Asian stock markets close Monday with loses

ANKARA

Major stock exchanges in Asia closed Monday in the negative territory amid investors' concerns over the gloomy economic outlook.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, lost 19.6 points, or 0.60%, to reach 3,227 at 1055GMT.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange performed worst, falling 215.4 points, or 0.77%, to 27,699 points.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, fell 46.2 points, or 0.22%, to 20,563.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange dropped 19.6 points, or 0.60%, to close at 3,250 points.

The Indian Sensex benchmark fell 306 points, or 0.55%, to 55,766, ending its six-session rally, while the Singapore index was flat at 3,180 points.

Singapore's annual inflation in June was 6.7%, the highest since October 2008, the country's statistics department revealed on Monday.