Asian Stocks End Mostly Lower; Europe Slips

BY Jeremiah Marquez

HONG KONG -- Most Asian stock markets extended their losses Wednesday as the global rally continued to lose steam amid concerns about the pace of any economic recovery. European shares also faltered.

More signs of economic weakness in the U.S. inspired caution among investors, while uncertainty over whether crude oil could punch through eight-month highs near $73 a barrel in the coming days weighed on some Asian resources companies.

With some indexes up more than 50% since March on expectations of an economic turnaround this year, markets have begun to stumble amid worries stock prices have gotten too far ahead of economic fundamentals. ...