Asian stock markets were lower in early trading Monday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped seven-tenths of a percent to close at 10,070.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1.69 percent , to end at 22,343.

Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Sydney, Wellington, Taipei and Manila. Shanghai markets edged up slightly

The dollar was selling at 80.76 yen in currency trading, up slightly from late Friday.