Major Asian stock markets closed lower Tuesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped nearly one and one-quarter percent to finish at 9,845.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,421.

Share prices were also lower in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 77.29 yen, a gain of a fraction of a yen from Monday.

Gold is trading at $1,628.45 an ounce.