Asian stock markets closed lower Tuesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped nearly one and one-half percent to finish at 9,926.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged over three percent to finish the day's trading at 21,663.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 79.62 yen, a loss of nearly three-quarters of a yen from Monday.