Asian Stocks Mostly Lower

HONG KONG (AP) -- Asian stocks were mostly lower today amid caution ahead of earnings announcements from large U.S. companies.

Those reports could shed light on the state of the world's largest economy.

Global investors are eyeing third-quarter earnings announcements and forecasts for the coming quarters for signs the U.S. economy is on a sounder footing. After aluminum maker Alcoa Inc. kicked earnings season off with results that topped expectations, major banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. will be releasing their reports, as will Google Inc. and General Electric Co.

Stock exchanges in Singapore and Hong Kong rose slightly and Japan's market was closed for a holiday.

U.S. futures trading suggests a mediocre opening on Wall Street today.

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