Most major indexes in Asia closed higher on Thursday despite Wall Street closing lower after a threat from President Donald Trump about a possible government shutdown.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index lost 80.87 points, or 0.4%, to 19,353.77
The Hang Seng Index soared 116.93 points, or 0.4%, to 27,518.60, as markets in Hong Kong re-opened after being shut on Wednesday due to typhoon Hato. Markets on the mainland closed lower
Australian markets were mostly flat with gains in the materials and information technology sub-indexes driving the broader market slightly higher.
The U.S. dollar climbed back above the 109 handle against the Japanese currency to fetch 109.34 yen late in the day, compared to levels as low as 108.82 yen seen earlier in the day.
In corporate news, Samsung Electronics launched its Galaxy Note 8 model in New York on Wednesday. The company was forced to recall its Galaxy Note 7 model last year after a battery problem led to several devices overheating and catching fire. Samsung shares closed higher by 0.1%
Market movers during the session included Australia's Flight Centre Travel Group, which saw its stock close up 10.7% after reporting full-year earnings. The company's full-year profit decreased by 5.6% to A$230.8 million ($182.33 million U.S.), but that remained above analyst expectations of A$224.1 million
Hong Kong-listed gaming stocks were lower after Macau experienced a power shutdown when typhoon Hato hit the city on Wednesday. Sands China was down 1.13% and Melco International Development fell 2%.
Power restoration in Macau began Wednesday afternoon, but some residents remained without electricity in the evening, South China Morning Post reported.
With little data due to be released during the Asian trading session, markets likely returned their focus on a central banking conference in Jackson Hole beginning Thursday U.S. time.
Trump on Tuesday in the U.S. said he would be willing to "close down" the government to secure funds needed to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The president had repeatedly pledged he would construct a border wall that Mexico would pay for as part of his plan to tackle illegal immigration, although Mexico has said it would not be funding the barrier.
In other markets
The CSI 300 dropped 21.44 points, or 0.6%, to 3,734.65
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index picked up 12.11 points, or 0.4%, to 3,272.16
In Taiwan, the Taiex index jumped 82.15 points, or 0.8%, to 10,488.96
In Korea, the Kospi index was up 9.44 points, or 0.4%, to 2,375.84
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slid 11.05 points, or 0.1%, to 7,868.41
In Australia, the ASX 200 inched up 8.32 points, or 0.1%, to 5,745.48
