Nikkei: 9,467.15 (+17.69) Hang Seng: 22,609.83 (–51.80) Shanghai Comp: 2,703.32 (–46.97)ASIAN SHARES fell for a sixth consecutive day yesterday, as concerns about the global economic recovery weighed on the region's stock markets.

Airlines lost ground on higher oil prices after Opec failed to reach an agreement to increase output. Qantas declined 2.3 per cent in Sydney to A$1.90, Air China sank 3 per cent to HK$7.24 and China Eastern Airlines slid 2.8 per cent to HK$3.11 in Hong Kong.

China’s stocks fell for the first time in four days. China Vanke fell 2.5 per cent to Rmb7.90 and Poly Real Estate shed 2.5 per cent to Rmb9.30.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged 0.2 per cent higher but car makers were under pressure after recent strength in the yen. Mazda fell 2.1 per cent to ¥190, while Isuzu lost 1.9 per cent to ¥355 and Suzuki shed 1.7 per cent to ¥1,695.

Tepco lost 4 per cent to ¥192, but at one point the electricity generator had been 27 per cent lower as concerns about its future following the nuclear leaks at its quake-stricken Fukushima plant continued to haunt the stock.– (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)