Asian stocks fall on Chinese services data

Asian stocks fell following Chinese and Japanese shares, as private services sector recorded slower growth in the world’s second largest economy, while natural gas and wheat climbed in the U.S. on the coldest air in two decades.

Moreover, The MSCI Asia Pacific Index retreated 0.8% in Tokyo as the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland shares in Hong Kong slid 1.5%. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures were little changed. The Topix lost 1.2% and rubber sank 4.3% in Tokyo as Japan’s markets reopened after a four-day break. Natural gas, 2013’s biggest gainer on the S&P GSCI Index of 24 commodities, rose 1%. Wheat added 0.6%.