Stock market today: Asia shares decline as faltering Chinese economy sets off global slide

Asian shares declined Wednesday amid worries over discouraging data on China, as well as over the future of the U.S. economy. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 1.5% to 18,309.42, and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.5% to 3,159.71. New Zealand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.5% on Wednesday.