In Asia, the Hang Seng ended the morning down 25.40 points at 15,248.91, with the Nikkei recently trading down 86.42 points at 13,306.71.
Oil prices crept up again in Asian trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November was up five cents at $65.87 a barrel after closing at $65.82 in the US yesterday.
Shares in BP and Royal Dutch Shell were upgraded to 'overweight' from 'neutral' at JP Morgan after the broker adjusted estimates for the European oil sector to reflect new commodity price forecasts.