** Markets: Asia little change
Asian stocks fell for the first time in three days on concern the yen near a 15-year high against the dollar will crimp export earnings of Japanese companies. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.2% to 131.23. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbed 0.3%, reversing earlier declines, led by utility companies, which benefit from a strong yen. Sony jumped. China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.3% led by consumer companies, on concern an increase in fuel prices will stoke inflation and that recent gains were excessive relative to the outlook for earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index each slipped 0.1%. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index were little changed.