Asia Stock Markets Fall in Hectic Session

Stock markets in Asia fell today on fears for the future of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev and local factors, with little influence from the Persian Gulf War.

In Tokyo, stocks closed lower after a hectic session drove the Nikkei index briefly below the psychological support level at 23,000. Brokers said arbitrager sales and concern over Gorbachev’s leadership triggered the decline.

The 225-share Nikkei index ended down 136.44, or 0.59%, at 23,156.70, with 270 million shares traded.

In Taiwan, the stock index wavered in a narrow range all day, managing to crawl briefly into positive territory before a late round of sell-orders pushed it lower, dealers said. The index dropped 21.27 points, or 0.5%.

Hong Kong stocks finished mixed in quiet trade dominated by weekend profit-taking and an absence of fresh buying incentives, brokers said.