Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped nearly one and three-quarter percent to finish at 9,555.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost just over one and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 23,254.

Share prices were also lower in Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington, but higher in Manila.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling virtually unchanged at 80.92.