Asian stocks plunge as Russia-Ukraine crisis reached a deadlock

Asian stocks plunged on Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dived by 3.2 percent, while Korea’s Kospi sank by 2.7 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid by 2.4 percent after coming back from a national holiday. China’s Shanghai Composite edged 0.9 percent lower.

Meanwhile, U.S. stocks futures also tumbled on Thursday. Dow futures were down as much as 780 points, or 2.4 percent. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures fell 2.3 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. The broad losses followed a sharp plunge on Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow closed more than 464 points lower, or 1.4 percent, posting its fifth straight day of losses. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also tumbled by 1.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.