Asian stocks ended mixed Thursday with energy scoring broad gains, while Canon Inc. paced a weaker session for Japanese exporters on concerns the battered U.S. dollar will continue its slide against leading currencies.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index inched up 23.59 points, or 0.15 percent, to 15,821.19 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index rose 226.88 points, or 0.9 percent, to 24,537.02.
Traders bought oil shares following a rise in U.S. oil futures with Nippon Oil rising 2.22 percent to 1,013 yen. Pharmaceutical issues were also higher.
But electronics and banking issues fell. Mitsubishi UFJ dropped 1.83 percent to 1,019 yen.
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi added 1.9%.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.3%.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index lost 1%.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index ended little changed.
SYDNEY: In Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2%, with shares of mining and energy giant BHP Billiton adding 0.4%.
with files from other wire services
