Asian and European stock markets are falling Wednesday as investors react to more bad news about the U.S. economy.

Asian stocks slumped, sending the region's benchmark index to the lowest level in four years, as Japanese exports missed estimates and commodities prices tumbled, deepening concern the global economy is headed for recession, reports Bloomberg.

Improvement in global markets comes after major US stock indexes soared more than four percent Thursday. European markets followed on the heels of Friday's rebound in Tokyo, as investors were encouraged by Thursday's gains on Wall Street.

Asian markets are sharply lower in morning trading Monday. Key markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei are all down about 3.5 percent. Japan's Nikkei index has fallen to a four-year low.

A report released by KPMG, FTSE Group ("FTSE") and Asian Public Real Estate Association ("APREA") today states that the credit crisis in the U.S. and Europe has put pressure on the decade of sustained growth in global real estate. On the other hand, the report observes the inflow of capital to Asia's real estate market is accelerating off the back of a prolonged period of steady growth which is powered by a combination of opportunistic and increasingly longer-term investments.

Crude oil prices rised past USD $135 a barrel for the first time on Wednesday, continuing its astonishing rise following unexpected drops in US crude and gasoline stocks in a tight market, dealers said.

Stock markets in Asia remain jittery, with fears of a U.S. recession continuing to cause major market fluctuation. Financial analysts say that this may be the beginning of a long period of market instability.

Asian markets ended mixed Thursday, rebounding from early lows that came after another steep loss on Wall Street and amid persistent worry over the likely impact of a U.S. recession.

World oil traded flat in Asia on Monday after concerns for the US economy appeared to outweigh the impact of OPEC's decision to hold output steady.

Asian markets become lower, with benchmark indexes in Hong Kong, Japan, China, Australia, and Singapore falling into negative territory from early highs.

World oil prices traded higher in Asia on Monday after US President George W Bush called for a multibillion-dollar stimulus plan to help kick-start his nation's flagging economy.

The benchmark Sensex on Monday tumbled by 769 points on fears foreign investment will slow down in the wake of rising inflation in the US that will limit interest rate cuts.