Asian Markets—Investors rushed to sell top Japanese brokerage Nomura, after saying it will raise up to $5.6 billion by selling company stocks off.
Investors focused on Nomura's sale size, which would cut its value 30 percent.
Japanese banks also fell on similar expectations. Also, financial institutions across Asia weakened as several world central banks said they will scale back pumping U.S. dollars into their banking systems.
Embattled flag carrier JAL dropped to record lows, after Japan's transport ministry said it would devise a new restructuring plan, calling JAL's cost-cutting plan insufficient.
While most regional markets were down, the head of Ford Motor, on a visit to China, offered a bright spot, saying he expects the U.S. firm to return to the black in 2011.
