Asian markets closed mixed Wednesday, with a weakened yen helping Japanese exporters while worries about Chinese companies' fund-raising plans hurt stocks on the mainland as well as China-related shares in Hong Kong.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.9 percent to 3,369.91, while Hong Kong's blue chip Hang Seng Index dropped 1 percent to 24,123.25, as investors held back ahead of the release of U.S. employment data Friday.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.6 percent to 14,435.57.
In the Tokyo spotlight, shares of Uniqlo casual-wear retailer Fast Retailing Co. jumped as much as 11.3%, rallying after the Nikkei business daily reported that growth in its operating profit for the year ending Aug. 31 is expected to be better than forecast.
Toyota Motor Corp. gained 3.2 percent while rival Honda Motor Co. jumped 8.6 percent. Sony Corp. rose 2.8 percent.
Also in Tokyo, shares of Casio Computer Co. slumped 6% a day after the company said it planned to raise 50 billion yen ($476 million) by issuing convertible bonds.
Elsewhere:
South Korea's Kospi gained 0.8%.
Taiwan's Weighted index added 0.6%.
New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.5%.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.2%.
Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.6%.
India's Sensex down 2.8%.
with files from other wire services
