DEBORAH MARCHINI, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to check the Asian markets. Stocks in Hong Kong were lower. One wonders what that has to do with the Chinese-U.S situation. Dalton Tanonaka joins me now with a look at the Asian markets -- Dalton.</s>DALTON TANONAKA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Deborah. Investors in Tokyo, where we'll start this Asian roundup, chased the banking and real estate stocks on expectations those companies would benefit from a government emergency economic package, details to be released tomorrow. The package is expected to include the creation of a fund to buy up shares that banks have been selling to reduce their cross share holdings. The Nikkei average gained nearly 1.5 percent, to snap a three-session losing streak. The Hong Kong market was weighted down by the 11 percent drop in heavyweight telco Pacific Century Cyberworks. Major shareholder Cable & Wireless, of the U.K., said it would divest its entire 14 percent stake in PCCW through a convertible bond issue. Analysts say PCCW tumbled on short selling by investors who bet the stock price would fall. Overall, the Hang Seng index slipped 1.1 percent. There are heavier losses in Seoul, where blue chips slid to their worst finish in more than three months. Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom were the big losers as overseas investors worried about losses from the weak won. It remains stuck near 30-month lows against the dollar. The KOSPI closed 2.3 percent lower. That's the market day here in Asia. Back to you, Deborah, in New York.</s>MARCHINI: All right, thanks, Dalton.
Asian Market Update: Japanese Investors Buy Banking, Real Estate Stocks in Advance of Government Economic Measures