Asian stocks open on negative note

Asian stocks declined, led by commodity companies, on lower oil and metal prices.

Inpex Corp dropped 1.5%.

Japanese benchmark index Nikkei fell 38.25 points, or 0.40%, to trade at 9,642.62.

Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index lost 35.92 points, or 0.20%, to trade at 17,943.49.

China`s Shanghai Composite slid 28.30 points, or 0.91% to trade at 3,096.37.

Taiwan`s Taiex index gained 42.31 points, or 0.64%, to trade at 6,692.22.

South Korea`s Kospi index shrank 0.80 points, or 0.06%, to trade at 1,428.14.

Singapore`s Straits Times rose 11.19 points, or 0.49%, to trade at 2,277.28. (7.40 a.m., IST)