Asian markets slide as 2014 gets off to slow start

Stock markets in Asia have started the new year in the red after a lowly first session which saw Chinese shares sell off on weak manufacturing numbers.

Both the Hong Kong Hang Seng and the Shanghai Composite indices were lower, off 0.1% and 0.4% respectively, as the latest data from China impacted sentiment. China's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index compiled by HSBC and Markit eased to 50.5, unchanged from the initial "flash" reading released earlier last month but lower than the final November number of 50.8. It marked a three-month low for the index, and gave investors a reason to sell. However, Japan provided more cheer as the Nikkei got off to a positive start, up 0.7%, as the weak yen continued to provide an upward boost....