Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average saw its biggest fall of 2019. The drop followed a plunge on Friday on Wall Street that came amid new worries of an economic slowdown.
The Nikkei closed Monday's session at 20,977, down 650 points or 3 percent. The index finished below the 21,000-mark for the first time since mid-February.
New York stocks fell on Friday on weak manufacturing data in Europe. Germany's PMI came in at its lowest level in over six years.
The inversion of the yield curve also had investors selling. The yield on the 10-year US treasury note fell below the level of the 3-month treasury bill. Many see it as an indicator of a looming recession.
