Major Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Friday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped more than one-half of one percent to finish at 9,351.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped well over one percent to finish the day's trading at 21,695.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.24, a loss of more than a one-quarter of a yen from Thursday.

Gold is trading at $1,527.34 an ounce.