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 nearly one and three-quarters percent to finish the day's trading at 21,957.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.63, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.