Profit taking in the resource sector has led the lower in Asian stockmarkets today. The ASX200 is down over 2% with the likes of BHP and RIO both down 5% and 6.2% respectively.

The Nikkei is trading lower by 0.5%. The shipping index has dropped over 6.5% after booking its 23rd straight up day yesterday.Mitsui OSK Lines fell 2.7% and Kawasaki Kisen -3.3%.

Elsewhere the Kospi is down 2% and Taiwan down 2.4%.