Stock market today: Asian shares slide after retreat on Wall Street as crude oil prices skid

Shares have fallen in Asia after a retreat on Wall Street as crude oil prices slipped on expectations that supply might outpace demand. Benchmarks fell more than 1% in Tokyo and Hong Kong. China reported that its exports rose 0.5% in November, the first year-on-year month of increase since April. Imports fell. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% in its third straight loss though the index remains near its best level in 20 months. The Dow fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%. Energy stocks had the worst drops by far after the price of crude oil sank more than 4% to touch its lowest level since June.