Summary In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3161 from $1.3158 late Tuesday in New York.
BANGKOK (AP) - Asian stock markets fell Wednesday in holiday-thinned trading after the pace of China s manufacturing growth slowed in April, raising fears of a weaker recovery in the world s second-largest economy.
The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers index fell to 50.6 in April from 50.9 in March on a 100-point scale on which readings above 50 indicate an expansion.
The industry group quoted economist Zhang Lijun as saying that steadily declining export orders and other indicators portend a slight decline in economic growth.
Analysts said the data slightly undershot expectations. Most had been expecting a reading of 50.7.
"Although conditions in Asia s industrial sector have improved, they still remain weak by historic standards," said Daniel Martin of Capital Economics in Singapore.
Japan s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.4 percent to 13,811.55 as the yen gained strength against the dollar. Australia s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.4 percent to 5,170.80 as investors took profits off the table after the market hit a five-year high Tuesday. New Zealand s benchmark fell while Indonesia rose.
Many stock markets were closed for May Day holidays, including those in Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
Among individual stocks, Japan s Sharp Corp. fell 5.6 percent. Kyodo News agency reported that the struggling electronics maker was likely to report a larger-than-expected net loss for fiscal 2012 on May 14. Australia s OZ Minerals fell 4 percent.
U.S. stocks finished modestly higher Tuesday, giving the Standard & Poor s 500 index another record close and its sixth straight month of gains.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 21.05 points, or 0.1 percent, to 14,839.80. The S&P 500 rose 0.3 percent to 1,597.57. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.7 percent to 3,328.79.
Benchmark oil for June delivery was down 43 cents to $93.03 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.04 to finish at $93.46 per barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday.
In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3161 from $1.3158 late Tuesday in New York. The dollar fell to 97.29 yen from 97.51 yen.
