Asian markets mostly down; Nikkei down 228pts

Asian markets are mostly down this morning.

The Hang Seng has slipped 58 points to 12,600. The Nikkei has plunged 228 points to 7,823.

The Taiwan Weighted index is up five points at 4,248. The Straits Times is up a point at 1,710, and the Seoul Composite index has declined 20 points to 1,097.

The Shanghai Composite index is down four points at 2,001.