Asian markets continued to fall on Wednesday, with Shanghai opening down more than 4% amid continuing worries about China's growth.

 

On Tuesday, data suggesting China's manufacturing sector was shrinking at its fastest pace in three years ignited a global market sell-off, resulting in US stocks closing down nearly 3%.

 

The Shanghai Composite recovered some ground to trade down 3.6% to 3,054.17.

 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was lower by 1.7% to 20,818.22 in early trade.

 

Chinese markets close on Wednesday evening for a two-day holiday to commemorate the end of World War Two.

 

Mainland Chinese stocks have lost nearly 40% of their value since June, despite attempts by the government and regulators to prop up the market.

 

Meanwhile, data showing US factory activity fell to a more than two-year low in August added to the already grim sentiment among investors.

 

Crude oil futures also continued downwards after an 8% fall in US trade, amid concerns about slowing demand from China.

 

Rest of Asia

 

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.8% to 18,296.67 after leading the region's losses in the previous session, down nearly 4%.

 

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was lower by 1.2% at 5,036.60 points as economic growth figures for the second quarter came in below expectations.

 

The economy expanded 0.2% from the previous quarter and was up 2% compared with the same period last year.

 

Economists were expecting quarterly growth of 0.4% while the annual rate was forecast to be up 2.2%.

 

In South Korea, shares were also lower after government data showed exports fell 4.3% in July, while imports rose 0.7%.

 

That led the current account surplus to fall to $9.5bn (£6.2bn) in seasonally adjusted terms from a record high of $10.7bn in June.

 

The benchmark Kospi index was down 0.3% at 1,908.50.

(BBC)