Major Asian stock markets closed lower Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index plunged nearly one and three-quarters percent to finish at 9,411.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one and three-quarters percent to finish the day's trading at 21,953.

Share prices were also lower in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.71, a loss of one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

Gold is trading at $1,524.98 an ounce.