Most Asian stocks fell, led by finance companies, as capital-raising efforts offset optimism that government policy measures will ease the financial crisis. Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s largest securities firm, lost 14 percent after saying it may sell shares to replenish capital. Suncorp-Metway Ltd., Australia’s third-largest general insurer, plunged 21 percent after it sold stock at a discount. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, climbed 3.4 percent in Sydney as its chief executive officer said the company may acquire mines and plants. “Market sentiment has turned a bit more positive on hopes that government stimulus plans will revive growth,” said John Koh, regional investment director at MEAG Hong Kong Ltd. which manages $1.1 billion. “The worst is not over yet. We’ll see worsening earnings going forward.” About five stocks declined for every four that advanced on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index, which dropped 0.1 percent to 83.31 as of 2:43 p.m. in Tokyo. The gauge has fallen 7 percent in 2009, extending last year’s record 43 percent tumble, as the world’s biggest economies sank into recession. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 1 percent to 7,994.23, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.7 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 1.1 percent. All markets gained except South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Indonesia. Haseko Corp., which builds condominiums and offices, sank 13 percent in Tokyo after saying it may not recover money owed by a bankrupt developer. Komatsu Ltd., the world’s No. 2 maker of earthmoving equipment, surged 5.2 percent as Japanese machinery orders fell less than economists expected. Government Action Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1 percent. The gauge climbed 2.7 percent on Feb. 6 to the highest level since Jan. 28 after the U.S. jobless rate jumped to 7.6 percent last month, the highest since 1992, sparking speculation Congress will move quickly to pass an economic stimulus plan. Canon Inc. and Honda Motor Co., which get at least a third of their sales in the Americas, advanced on optimism U.S. sales will recover. Canon rose 2.5 percent to 2,625 yen. Honda added 2.4 percent to 2,310 yen. A key procedural vote in the U.S. Senate on a $780 billion proposal is scheduled for later today, with a final vote tomorrow. The Senate measure must then be reconciled with an $819 billion plan the House approved last month. Governments around the world are stepping up efforts to ease the crisis that the International Monetary Fund predicts will cause global growth to almost grind to a halt this year. Asian nations from China to Singapore and India have pledged more than $685 billion on their own spending programs. Raising Capital Advanced economies are already in “depression”, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in Kuala Lumpur at the weekend. Stock declines in the past year have dragged the average valuation of companies on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index down by 15 percent to 13 times reported profit, as more signs emerged the global financial crisis was hurting corporate earnings. Nomura tumbled 14 percent to 494 yen after saying it may sell stock valued at as much as 300 billion yen ($3.3 billion) from Feb. 19, the company said on Feb. 6 after markets shut. The brokerage posted a record loss of 343 billion yen in the three months to Dec. 31. Suncorp plunged 21 percent to A$5.31. The company on Feb. 6 said it sold shares to institutions at a 33 percent discount to the stock’s last traded price. The stock also tumbled amid concern insurance claims will rise following wildfires in Australia that have so far killed at least 108 people and destroyed 750 homes. Distressed Sellers Haseko plunged 13 percent to 68 yen. The company is assessing its earnings forecast in light of the possible failure to recover funds from Japan General Estate Co. and its real estate unit. Japan General filed for bankruptcy protection last week. Mining companies rose as a measure of six primary metals traded in London climbed 4.2 percent on Feb. 6, capping the biggest weekly advance since the period ended Jan. 2. A measure of materials stocks on the MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 1.8 percent, the most of the regional gauge’s 10 industry groups. BHP Billiton Ltd. rose 3.4 percent to A$33.34. The company will seek assets from any distressed sellers and said some of Rio Tinto Group’s would fit well into its portfolio, CEO Marius Kloppers told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. yesterday. Rio, which last week said it was in talks with Aluminum Corp. of China to raise cash by selling debt and stakes in some units, gained 5.7 percent to A$49.40. The company said today that director Jim Leng quit and will no longer become chairman as announced less than a month ago. Machinery Orders Komatsu climbed 5.2 percent to 1,085 yen. Fanuc Ltd., the world’s No. 1 maker of industrial robots, jumped 5.7 percent to 6,320 yen. Orders for Japanese machinery fell 1.7 percent in December from November, the Cabinet Office said today before markets opened. Economists had estimated an 8.6 percent tumble. Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd., Australia’s biggest soft-drink maker, slumped 11 percent to A$8.30 after Lion Nathan Ltd., the nation’s second-largest brewer, scrapped its A$7.3 billion (S4.9 billion) offer for the company.

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