In Asia today, the Nikkei has closed down a whopping 462.08 points at 15,805.95, while the Hang Seng ended the morning down 26.58 points at 15,751.14.
Oil prices rose in Asian trading hours, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, up 85 cents at $64.77 a barrel from its close of $63.92 in the US Friday.