Shares in Asia were broadly lower early Wednesday, tracking declines on Wall Street after a spate of disappointing earnings reports and weaker-than-expected economic data. The Nikkei Stock Average NIK, -0.19% in Japan fell 0.2%, Korea’s Kospi SEU, -1.31% was 1.3% lower, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index HSI, -0.84% was down 0.5%, and the Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -0.42% was off 0.2%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -1.70% was down 1.5%, falling to its lowest level in a month, leading the region’s declines as economic data boosted the local dollar amidst weakness in financial and commodity stocks. Australia’s third ... (full story)