Hong Kong (CNN) -- Investors around the world have far more fear than hope this week judging from a major selloff of global stocks and gloomy predictions from the World Bank and PIMCO, the global bond giant. Japan's Tokyo Nikkei led Thursday's rout across Asian stock markets, closing down 6.4% to a two-month low. The index has also lost a full 20% of its value since this year's high -- only set on May 22 -- meaning the bourse is now in bear market territory. The Shanghai Composite fell 2.8% while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong fell 2.7%. "The fear of markets in Asia is that the strengthening of the U.S. dollar could pose risks across the entire region," says Frederic Neumann, HSBC's Co-Head of Asian Economic Research and Managing Director.
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Asia, U.S. investors sell off stocks; Japan leads Asia rout Thursday with 6.4% plunge
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HSBC: U.S. dollar strength pushing fear into Asia markets; volatility to stay
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Sunrise: Japanese yen to fall below 90; investors 'should reduce' Japan equity stake
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World Bank revises down 2013 global growth; PIMCO says 60% chance of new recession
As investors sold off stocks in @placeholder, they also digested a new research note from PIMCO, which runs the world's largest mutual fund.