Asian markets were broadly lower on Monday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index plunged 2.3 percent to 21,803.51 and South Korea's Kospi shed 2.2 percent to 2,276.13. The Shanghai Composite index slipped 2.1 percent to 2,788.37 while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.2 percent to 6,181.50. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was closed for a market holiday. Southeast Asian indexes were mixed. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 64 cents to $73.51 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 1 percent to $74.15 a barrel in New York on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 92 cents to $78.31 in London. The dollar eased to 110.70 yen from 110.74 yen in late trading Friday. The euro weakened to $1.1647 from $1.1695.
