Brexit aftermath

After initial gains, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 closed down 7.7% to 14,982.48 points.

The UK has voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union after 43 years in an historic referendum.

Analysts said investor sentiment has been rattled by the looming uncertainty on markets around the globe.

But as the results started to show a likely victory for the Brexit camp, the mood in Asia soured.

Investors are in panic mode, and clients here are telling their brokers to sell the British sterling and buy safe havens like the Japanese yen and gold.

Just after the BBC forecast a win for the Leave campaign, the sterling had fallen by more than 10% against the US dollar, touching levels not seen since 1985.