1.   In addition to selling by foreign investors, arbitrage-related selling was set off by an overnight drop in Nikkei futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

2.   Technology stocks fell, led by Creative Technology Ltd. and NatSteel Ltd., following an overnight drop in U.S. computer-related stocks.

3.   The Australian dollar was little changed from yesterday in late Sydney trading, recovering from an overnight drop caused by weakening gold prices, traders said.

4.   The decline outweighed an overnight drop in U.S. Treasuries, which set the pace for global debt markets.

5.   A sharp overnight drop on Wall Street also discouraged investors, traders said.

6.   An overnight drop on Wall Street as well as a fall in September futures prices on Monday in Tokyo also dampened market sentiments, traders said.

7.   Arbitrage-related selling was triggered by an overnight drop in Nikkei futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

8.   Asian stock markets closed mostly lower for the second straight day Monday, with share prices falling in Tokyo on the back of an overnight drop on Wall Street.

9.   Asian stock markets closed mostly lower for the second straight day Tuesday, with share prices falling in Tokyo on the back of an overnight drop on Wall Street.

10.   Asian markets closed mostly lower Thursday, with many markets battered by the overnight drop in New York.