Major 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 Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 79.65 yen, a loss of more than one-half of a yen from Monday.

Gold is trading at $1,546.93 an ounce.