Asian shares closed mostly lower Wednesday, with a stronger yen depressing export-related shares in Tokyo, while gains in mainland oil producers and refiners led Hong Kong and China to a rebound on speculation Beijing may amend its energy policy as crude-oil prices spiked above $129 a barrel.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 1.65 percent to close at 13,926.30.
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 2.9 percent to 3,544.19. Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed nearly 1.2 percent to 25,460.29 after falling as much as 1.4 percent.
In Tokyo, shares of car companies and other Japanese exporters took a hit. Toyota Motor Corp. shed 3.3 percent, and Nissan Motor Co. declined 4.2 percent.
Banks also took a drubbing on Wall Street's weakness. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 4.5 percent. Mizuho Financial Group dropped 5 percent.
Elsewhere:
Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.1%.
Taipei's Weighted Price Index fell 0.6%.
Thailand's SET was up 1.2%.
India's Sensex added 0.1%.
Indonesia's JSX Composite closed 0.7% lower.
Malaysia's KLSE ended down 0.5%.
with files from other wire services
