Asian Stocks Finish Mostly Lower

Tomoko A. Hosaka

TOKYO -- Asian stocks ended mostly lower Wednesday with burgeoning optimism about a global economic recovery punctured by weak U.S. data.

Lethargic financial and tech shares dragged down the region's major markets including Tokyo, spoiling expectations for a sustained regional rally. Investors eager for good news may have jumped the gun in driving up prices recently, analysts said.

Wall Street on Tuesday shifted into reverse after the U.S. government reported a 1.1% slump in retail sales in March, an unexpectedly poor result that rattled hopes that the worst of the recession had passed. Investors watch retail sales trends closely as a barometer of consumer spending, which makes up two-thirds of the world's largest economy. ...