Asian Stocks Drift Lower

Asian stocks trended lower overnight but without the dramatics of earlier this week.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index was off nearly 233 points, or 1.3%, to 17,221 -- below closing lows set three weeks ago and putting the index in negative territory for the year.

In early trading, China's Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5% to 2784, while Taiwan's Taiex was essentially flat at 7672.

Indices in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur also were modestly lower....