Asian Shares, US Futures Fall After Paris Terrorist Attacks

Asian shares fell in the after the terrorist attacks in Paris over the weekend, triggering caution among investors. Japan's Nikkei dropped more than 1 percent. Aside from the attacks, investors may also be reacting to July-September GDP, which fell 0.8 percent, the government said Monday. That's more than the 0.2 percent expected by economists, putting Japan back in recession after a 0.7 percent decline in the second quarter.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.4 percent, while Korea's KOSPI Index and Australia's ASX200 both slipped about 0.9 percent. Singapore shares are off about 0.8 percent.

European and U.S. markets are indicated to fall as well, with Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures each off by about 0.4 percent.

Crude oil rose on speculation some supply from the Middle East may be disrupted.

Analysts expect today's declines will be temporary.

“There is no doubt that the attacks in Paris will contribute to short-term investor nervousness,” Bloomberg reported Shane Oliver, Sydney-based strategist at AMP Capital Investors Ltd., as saying. “I think history will repeat itself. It will just be a short selloff in response to the Paris attacks.”

One analyst said it could extend for a few days.

"The Paris attack over the weekend may trigger risk aversion in the early part of the week," Associated Press. reported Cynthia Jane Kalasopatan of the Singapore Treasury Division at Mizuho Bank as saying. "We may thus see a knee-jerk reaction in asset markets today."

In the meantime, some investors are seeking safe havens, pushing gold up after a four-day decline.