HONG KONG, Aug 15: Asian markets fell on Wednesday despite the better-than-expected US and European data, while Standard Chartered bank rebounded after settling claims it helped Iranian firms dodge the US sanctions.

With many traders away for summer breaks volume was light and movement limited, while Wall Street offered little guidance with a mixed finish.

Hong Kong fell 1.18 per cent, or 239.39 points, to 20,052.29, Tokyo was off 0.05 per cent, or 4.84 points, to 8,925.04, and Sydney lost 0.26 per cent, or 11 points, to 4,281.2.

Shanghai lost 1.10 per cent, or 23.58 points, to 2,118.95. Seoul was closed for a public holiday.

Taipei fell 0.15 per cent, or 11.51 points, to 7,467.74.

Smartphone maker HTC slid 4.13 per cent to Tw$243.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.24 per cent lower at Tw$83.0.

Wellington rose 0.62 per cent, or 22.30 points, to 3,631.19. Contact Energy gained 0.4 per cent to end at NZ$4.90, while Telecom Corp surged 3.3 per cent to NZ$2.835 and Fletcher Building was steady on NZ$6.53.

Manila was flat, edging down 0.01 per cent, or 0.72 points, to 5,266.66. Top-traded Ayala Corp. fell 1.85 per cent to 425 pesos and Metropolitan Bank added 0.90 per cent to 94.85 pesos.

Singapore closed 0.83 per cent, or 25.73 points, lower at 3,062.11. Singapore Telecom was down 0.60 per cent to Sg$3.34 and casino operator Genting Singapore raised 2.34 per cent to Sg$1.31.

Kuala Lumpur stocks gained 0.05 per cent, or 0.88 points, to 1,653.78. PPB Group lost 4.6 per cent to 14.10 ringgit, AirAsia shed 1.6 per cent to 3.60 and Maxis gained 0.7 per cent to 6.87.

Jakarta ended up 0.5 per cent, or 20.43 points, at 4,141.99. Car maker Astra rose 2.1 per cent to 7,350 rupiah, Telkom put on 4.5 per cent to 9,250 rupiah, and Indocement gained 1.7 per cent to 20,500 rupiah.

While Mumbai was closed for a public holiday.—AFP