Asian shares lost ground on Thursday amid thinner pre-holiday trade, after the Dow Jones Industrials failed to reach the 20,000-point mark overnight.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index dipped 16.82 points, or 0.1%, to 19,427.67
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong discarded 173.6 points, or 0.8%, to 21,636.20
The Constitutional Court of Korea will begin its first hearings on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, who is accused of letting a close friend meddle in state affairs and use insider influence for personal gain.
Australian markets kept above water. California-based 3D printing company Robo 3D made its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange.
The stock opened at A$0.15 per share, a premium after being priced at A$0.10. It last traded up 30.8% at A$0.14.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the economy had surged ahead in the third quarter of the calendar year, as domestic consumption, home building and tourism boomed. The country's third-quarter gross domestic product gained 1.1% beating forecasts of a 0.9% increase, and the fifth straight quarter of growth at 0.7% or higher.
The yen stood at 117.58 against the U.S. dollar, while the Australian dollar was at $0.724 by mid-afternoon local tme. The South Korean won weakened against the dollar at 1,198.63, having extended losses for the sixth straight day, reaching as low as 1,200 against the dollar during the session.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 shed 2.86 points, or 0.1%, to 3,335.67
In Korea, the Kospi lost 2.23 points, or 0.1%, at 2,035.73
The Straits Times Index in Singapore fell 19.66 points, or 0.7%, to 2,882.04
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index subtracted 85.51 points, or 0.9%, to 9,118.75
The NZX 50 added 49.11 points, or 0.7%, at 6,851.87
Australia's ASX 200 improved 30.47 points, or 0.5%, at 5,643.94
