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 Manila, Shanghai, Taipei and Wellington, but higher in Sydney.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.49, a loss of nearly one-fourth of a yen from Thursday.