DEBORAH MARCHINI, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we saw a 5 1/2 percent drop in the Nasdaq yesterday, but it has failed to catch up with most of Asia. Some of Japan's biggest names are reporting as well today. Dalton Tanonaka looks at the trading day in Asia from our studios in Hong Kong. Hi, Dalton.</s>DALTON TANONAKA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Deborah. Asian markets continue to be tied to the tremors on the Nasdaq. Even a strong earnings report couldn't help the share price of Japan's NEC. The world's second-biggest chip maker fell 5 1/3 percent. Before the market closed in Tokyo, NEC posted a return to profit of $190 million for the first half, in line with expectations. Robust sales in chips used in personal computers and cell phones responsible there. Tech bellwether Sony announced second-quarter numbers. The maker of PlayStation2 earned $183 million, but that was a drop of 57 percent from the same period last year. Sony blaming their earnings shortfall on the strong yen and the high costs of rolling out its new video game console. Sony edged down a half percent ahead of the announcement. Overall, the Nikkei closing marginally higher. In Hong Kong, losses in global banking giant HSBC overwhelmed gains in the telecom sector. The Hang Seng slipping a half percent. And the Nasdaq's steep selloff put an end to Taiwan's five- session win streak. The benchmark Taiex lost 1-1/3 percent, as investors cash in on a recent 18-percent run up. And that is the market and business day here in Asia -- Deborah.</s>MARCHINI: All right, thanks a lot, Dalton.
Nasdaq Drop Sends Tremors Across Asian Markets