Asia stocks decline as risk sentiment sours after china data

Chinese exports fell for the third month in a row and imports dropped for the 11th-consecutive month in September, highlighting the soft state of demand in China as the world's second-biggest economy faces its weakest expansion in more than two decades.

The trade surplus expanded to 376.2 billion Yuan in September from 368.03 billion yuan a month earlier, according to the Customs General Administration of China (CGAC), coming in better than the forecast surplus of 292.4 billion Yuan.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.83% to 18,285.38 points in morning trade, while Tokyo's broader Topix gauge slipped 0.43% to 1,508.63 points.

Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index fell 0.61% to 22,593.39 points at the opening bell, and mainland China's benchmark Shanghai Composite tumbled 1.05% to 3,253.25 points at the same time.

Korea's benchmark Kospi index fell 0.30% to 2,015.54 points this morning in Seoul.

The benchmark Australian S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 0.75% to 5,193.70 points in Sydney, with miners copping the brunt of losses on Monday morning.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.36% to 5,710.04 points this afternoon in Wellington.