2014.03.1403:32:22UTC+00Asian shares slip amid Ukraine crisis

Asian stocks plummeted to a three-week low on Friday, as intensified standoff in Ukraine before a weekend referendum agitated investors to slack riskier assets.

Firm US retail sales and employment data also strengthened expectations the US Federal Reserve will stick to its plan of slowly withdrawing its asset-buying stimulus. Thursday's disappointing Chinese economic figures hyped the blues.

MSCI's widest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dived 0.5% in early trading, reaching its lowest point since late February and on trail for a weekly loss of more than 2%. Meanwhile, Australian shares waived 1.4% in early trade. Russia initiated new military exercises close to its border with Ukraine on Thursday, although the US warned that Moscow risked facing serious moves if annexation was the result of a referendum designed 

for Sunday in Crimea.