Investing.com - Asian shares were weaker on Wednesday following Wall Street overnight as investors turned cautious after an impressive start to 2018 across global benchmarks.
Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.61%. Japan reported a surprise jump in core machinery orders for November with a 5.7% leap, compared to a 1.4% drop expected on month and 4.1% pace annually, compared to a 0.7% decline seen on year
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 eased 0.46%. Major mining names recorded significant declines: Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) fell 2.77%, BHP tumbled 2.46% and Fortescue Metals slid 2.35%.
In Greater China, the Shanghai Composite was flat and the Hang Seng index eased 0.57%. Financials were a mixed picture with HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) and China Construction Bank clung to gains, edging higher by 0.12%, while insurer AIA declined 0.59%.
Overnight, the Dow Jones industrial average ended 10.33 points lower at 25,792.86. At its session highs, the index traded above 26,000 and 283 points higher. The Dow also posted its biggest one-day reversal since Feb. 10, 2016.
The S&P 500 closed 0.4% lower at 2,776.42. The index had traded above 2,800 for the first time earlier in the session. The Nasdaq composite also erased gains, finishing 0.5% lower at 7,223.69.