Worries over flagging economic growth in China are also weighing on sentiment.

They said that next Tuesday's U.S. presidential election was weighing on sentiment.

Also weighing on sentiment were the major losses in Tenaga Nasional.

Marshall said a number of uncertainties were weighing on sentiment.

Other potential risks weighing on sentiment included North Korea.

Political uncertainty is also weighing on sentiment in Australia, weeks ahead of the May 18 election.

Concerns about listed firms' earnings, economic recovery and the virus outbreak are weighing on sentiment, Paiboon said.

Market watchers said signs of fresh sovereign debt problems in Europe were among the factors weighing on sentiment.

Business confidence has fallen with market volatility, a gloomy dairy sector, and a likely fall in sales, weighing on sentiment.

Returning supply from Libya and Nigeria will hamper a rebalancing of the global crude market, weighing on sentiment, traders said.

A crucial announcement from the US Federal Reserve on the potential prospects for interest rates was also weighing on sentiment.

Also weighing on sentiment, China's net gold imports from main conduit Hong Kong fell to a 10-month low in June.

Also weighing on sentiment was softer inflation data from China, which pointed to further cooling in Southeast Asia's largest trading partner.

Also weighing on sentiment was data showing sales of new U.S. single-family homes unexpectedly fell in July to a seven-month low.

Illustration: ICAEW The report pointed to several factors weighing on sentiment and predicted economic growth will slow further in the coming months.

The tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports, which have raised prices of many items, are weighing on sentiment, they said.