Asian stock markets settled lower on Friday as investors liquidated their position ahead of the release of the US monthly jobs report expected to either make or break the case for an interest-rate rise this month. China's stock market was closed for a public holiday.

Japan's benchmark index, Nikkei 225 plunged 390.23 points or 2.15 percent to settle at 17,792.16. Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 94.33 points or 0.45 percent to end at 20,840.61. Singapore's Straits Times fell 42.62 points or 1.47 percent to end at 2,863.81.

South Korea's KOSPI fell 29.49 points or 1.54 percent to end at 1,886.04. Taiwan's TAIEX declined 95.35 points or 1.18 percent to end at 8,000.60.