Asian shares fell on Tuesday (Aug 18), with Shanghai leading the declines as investors doubted Beijing's commitment to prop up shares while Bangkok slumped after a bomb attack in the Thai capital. HONG KONG: Asian shares fell on Tuesday (Aug 18), with Shanghai leading the declines as investors doubted Beijing's commitment to prop up shares while Bangkok slumped after a bomb attack in the Thai capital. Meanwhile, the US dollar headed higher against the euro, helped by improving confidence in the US housing sector ahead of the release of US central bank minutes. Shanghai closed down 6.15 percent, or 245.51 points, at 3,748.16 - its biggest daily fall in three weeks - while Hong Kong lost 1.43 percent, or 339.68 points, to end the day at 23,474.97. Tokyo closed down 0.32 percent, or 65.79 points, at 20,554.47. Sydney fell 1.20 percent, or 64.55 points, to 5,303.10 and Seoul dipped 0.62 percent, or 12.26 points, to close at 1,956.26. Thai shares, meanwhile, notched their steepest decline this year and the baht slid to its lowest level since 2009 after a bomb attack killed at least 20 people and injured scores in Bangkok. Asian shares gave up early gains driven by a higher close on Wall Street as jitters about the health of China's economy, the world's second-largest, spread across the region. Traders in China said they now doubt Shanghai will be able to break above the key 4,000 point level soon without evidence Beijing will unleash fresh stimulus. "The market lacks the momentum to go up," Shen Zhengyang, an analyst at Northeast Securities, told AFP, adding: "In the short-term, the market will fluctuate on the weak side." Markets have long been on edge about slowing growth in China, but concerns reached fever pitch last week after a shock devaluation of the yuan sparked fears it is stalling more than previously though. The steep fall in the yuan scared many investors into dropping Chinese assets and last week Shanghai and Hong Kong shares saw US$531 million net outflows - the ninth week of sales out of 10. FED IN FOCUS Facing tight liquidity, China's central bank on Tuesday said it pumped 120 billion yuan into the money market, which state media said was the largest single-day cash injection since January 2014. Even a pledge Friday by the securities regulator to keep supporting equities through the state-backed China Securities Finance Corp for years to come has not reassured some dealers. "Investors ran for the exit when the government failed to step in to support the market," Steve Wang, chief China economist at Reorient Financial Markets, told Bloomberg News. "The CSF has become a main player in this market so everyone is watching it. People panic when it stops buying." Markets are now awaiting the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, which could shed light on the US central bank's timing for an interest rate rise. Speculation the Fed will soon raise its key rate for the first time in almost a decade has strengthened the dollar, while concerns the fall in the yuan could spark a currency war has dragged on many Asia-Pacific currencies. In Tokyo currency markets, the US dollar was quoted at 124.32 yen, down from 124.41 yen in New York late Monday. But it strengthened against the euro, which traded at US$1.1068 and 137.60 yen from US$1.1078 and 137.81 yen. The Thai baht fell to 35.648 against the dollar, touching its lowest point since April 2009 on fears a deadly bombing in the capital could hit the vital tourism sector. Bangkok shares slumped 2.92 percent, the most in eight months, led by a slump in tourism stocks while transport related companies were also hit. Oil prices slipped as fears of a lasting global oversupply weighed on the market. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery was down 32 cents to US$41.55 in afternoon trade. Brent crude for October gave up 11 cents to US$48.63. Gold was at US$1,120.34 compared to US$1,121.23 late Monday. IN OTHER MARKETS: - Wellington fell 0.29 percent, or 16.66 points, to 5,710.76. Fletcher Building was 1.81 percent off at NZ$7.58 while Contact Energy went against the trend and rose 0.76 percent to NZ5.28 - Taipei slid 0.44 percent, or 36.2 points, to 8,177.22. Taiwan's biggest bank Cathay Financial Holding fell 3.86 percent to T$44.80 while Fubon Financial Holding declined 3.38 percent to T$51.40. - Manila ended flat, losing 3.39 points to 7,333.45. Top-traded Universal Robina rose 1.06 percent to 190 pesos, SM Prime Holdings was flat at 20 pesos, while GT Capital dropped 1.22 percent to 1,294 pesos.

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