Asian stock markets were sharply lower in trading Monday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped 2.3 percent to close at 8,536.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged 4.2 percent to end at 19,031.

Elsewhere, share prices closed lower in Sydney, Manila and Wellington. Markets in Shanghai and Taipei were closed for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The dollar was selling at 76.80 yen in currency trading, down eight-tenths of a yen from late Friday.