Asian stocks closed lower on Thursday as investor confidence seen earlier in the week wavered overnight amid geopolitical tensions.
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 26.82 points, or 0.1%, to 21,660.28, as automakers and oil sectors slid, while consumer goods stocks notched slight gains as investors digested earnings.
Meanwhile, in individual movers, Japanese retailer Aeon jumped 4.1% after the company announced that annual profit rose 14% compared to one year ago.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index faded 66.43 points, or 0.2%, to 30,831.28, despite strength in the energy sector, which was buoyed by the advance in oil prices. Tech names were downbeat, with Tencent lower by 2.2% ahead of the market close.
In Korea, cosmetics plays sank, but oil-related stocks and most technology names advanced, with Samsung Electronics finishing the session up 0.3%
The Bank of Korea kept interest rates steady at 1.5% on Thursday, a move that was largely expected by the market.
Australian indexes lost ground, as gains in the materials and energy sub-indexes were offset by the move lower in industrials, among other sectors. The heavily weighted financials sector slipped 0.4%.
In currencies, the U.S. dollar pared some losses after coming under pressure against the safe-haven Japanese currency amid the pick up in geopolitical risk overnight. Against the yen, the dollar traded at 106.83 by late afternoon.
Of note, the Hong Kong dollar touched a 33-year low earlier on Thursday, touching the low end of its trading band between 7.75 and 7.85 per U.S. dollar. The currency, which is pegged to the greenback, last traded at 7.8498 to the dollar.
In other markets
In China, the CSI 300 let go of 39.7 points, or 1%, to 3,938.64
In Korea, the Kospi erased 1.51 points to 2,444.71
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 11.15 points, or 0.3%, to 3,468.61
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index fell 18.73 points, or 0.2%, to 10,955.29
In New Zealand, the NZD 50 Index retreated 49.5 points, or 0.6%, to 8,404.22
In Australia, the ASX 200 Index sank 13.15 points, or 0.2%, to 5,815.53
