ASIAN stock markets, already weighed down by growing fears of war in Iraq, failed to take the cue from Wall Street's overnight rally and continued their descent yesterday, with domestic issues eroding investor confidence in key bourses.
Japan's Nikkei continued with its tailspin at 20-year lows and South Korea's Kospi, apart from dealing with growing uncertainty with North Korea, remained under pressure as news swirled of a corporate scandal at one of the country's largest companies.