Asian stock markets closed lower Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index plunged more than two percent to finish at 9,637.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost nearly two percent to finish the day's trading at 21,993.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.33 yen, a gain of nearly two-tenths of a yen from Tuesday.