China leads Asian stocks down amid Coronavirus concerns

Asian stock indices opened the fourth session of the week mixed but mostly lower, with China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea declining while New Zealand eked out gains, amid concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus, which already killed 17 people at least and infected hundreds. 

Chinese stocks marked over 1% losses while readying for the new lunar year holiday.

Chinese authorities suspended air and rail travels from Wuhan, the place where the virus originated, with 17 people dying so far and over 540 infected. 

Earlier Japanese data showed the trade deficit widened to 152.5 billion yen from 85.2 billion in November, while analysts expected a 152.6 billion deficit. 

Japanese industrial activity rose 0.9% in November, compared to a 4.8% tumble in October. 

From Australia, the unemployment rate fell to 5.1% from 5.2% in November, while employment change rose 28.9 thousand, up from 38.5 in November. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.48% to 1,735.70, while Nikkei 225 shed 0.64% to 23,877.89. 

China's CSI 300 tumbled 1.58%, while Shanghai declined 1.31% to 3,020.64. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 1.12% to 28,024.81, while South Korea's KOSPI lost 0.82%. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.04%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.76%.