The unrest in the Middle East is pushing up oil prices and causing many Asian stock markets to fall broadly. Airlines are doing particularly badly, pressured by higher oil prices and cancelled flights in the Middle East. On the other hand, energy stocks are rising as oil prices rise.
Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.5 percent and the Topix fell 1.6 percent in early Monday trading.
The Hong Kong-based Hang Seng fell 1.7 percent.
The Chinese Shenzhen Stock Exchange dropped 0.75 percent. However, the Shanghai Stock Exchange remained around zero.
It is a public holiday in South Korea and the Kospi is closed.
