Hong Kong stocks opened lower: the Hang Seng Index fell 2% at the open and the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 1.8%.

LME three-month zinc fell to $3,732/tonne, the lowest level since Aug. 20.

Pezeshkian said on Oct. 1 Iran will not avoid talks with the US, saying Tehran has never refused dialogue and that Washington has not sought talks. He said Iran is weighing its response to a US reply to Tehran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Iran earlier said it had received a formal US response. The comments follow US President Trump saying Washington could step up strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections.