Asian markets weak; Nikkei down 193pts

Most of the Asian markets have started the week on a negative note.

The Hang Seng has plunged 358 points to 22,928. The Nikkei has dropped 193 points to 12,628.

The Taiwan Weighted index has tumbled 90 points to 8,533. The Shanghai Composite index is down 74 points at 3,506.

The Straits Times and the Seoul Composite indices are nearly flat at 3,038 and 1,703, respectively.