HONG KONG, Feb 21: Asian markets suffered a heavy sell-off on Thursday following a tumble on Wall Street as traders grow concerned that the US Federal Reserve could bring an early end to its huge stimulus programme.

Minutes from the Fed’s most recent policy board meeting showed some members were in favour of cutting short the $85 billion-a-month bond-buying introduced last year to support the economy and which has helped lift global shares.

Tokyo fell 1.39 per cent, or 159.15 points, to 11,309.13 and Sydney slid 2.33 per cent, or 118.6 points, to 4,980.1, its worst day so far for 2013 and biggest fall since May. Seoul was off 0.47 per cent, or 9.42 points, at 2,015.22.

Shanghai tumbled 2.97 per cent, or 71.23 points, to 2,325.95, while Hong Kong slipped 1.72 per cent, or 400.74 points, to 22,906.67.

On Wall Street the Dow fell 0.77 per cent and the S&P 500 lost 1.24 per cent, with both markets having closed at more than five-year highs on Tuesday. The Nasdaq dropped 1.53 per cent.

In other markets: Taipei fell 71.64 points, or 0.89 per cent, to 7,957.46. HTC rose 0.54 per cent to Tw$279.0 while Hon Hai Precision fell 1.89 per cent to Tw$83.2.

Singapore closed 0.64 per cent, or 21.29 points, lower at 3,287.60. Oil rig maker Keppel Corp dropped 0.43 per cent to Sg$11.66. Real estate developer Capitaland fell 2.74 per cent to Sg$3.90.

Jakarta ended down 2.05 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 4,632.40. State controlled miner Aneka Tambang dropped 3.73 per cent to 1,290 rupiah and retailer Hero Supermarket slid 1.82 per cent to 5,400 rupiah.

Kuala Lumpur gained 0.72 points or 0.04 per cent, to close at 1,614.05. Felda Global Ventures Holdings was up 0.4 per cent to 4.49 ringgit while PPB Group rose 0.8 per cent to 12.38. Genting Malaysia fell 1.9 per cent to end at 3.56 ringgit.

Mumbai fell 1.62 per cent or 317.39 points to 19,325.36 points. Indian steel producer Tata Steel fell 4.18 per cent to 364.15 rupees while private ICICI Bank slid 3.77 per cent to 1,078.45 rupees. —AFP