Asian stock markets closed lower on Thursday, spooked by concerns over the outcome of next week's U.S. presidential election.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 lost 307.72 points or 1.76 percent to settle at 17,134.68. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 126.99 points or 0.56 percent to end at 22,683.51.

Singapore's Straits Times declined 5.06 points or 0.18 percent to end at 2,802.08. Taiwan's TAIEX lost 71.77 points or 0.79 percent to end at 9,067.27.

On the other hand, China's benchmark index, Shanghai Composite went up 26.20 points or 0.84 percent to close at 3,128.94. South Korea's KOSPI gained 4.86 points or 0.25 percent to end at 1,983.80.