Asian stocks traded on a mostly weaker note Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 average ending slightly lower as investors retired to the sidelines after strong gains during the previous two sessions.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 52.67 points, or 0.30 percent, to finish at 17,491.42 while in Hong Kong Hang, Taiwan and the Philippines markets were closed Thursday.
Investors took profits in steels, utilities and gas shares following recent gains, traders said.
Losers included JFE Holdings Inc., which fell 2.50 percent to 6,620 yen (US$55.63), Kansai Electric Power Co., which shed 1.75 percent to 3,370 yen (US$28.32) and Tokyo Gas Co., which lost 2.23 percent to 657 yen (US$5.52).
In China, shares rose to a fourth straight record high, as lower jet fuel prices boosted airline companies and airport operators.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which has set record settlements each day this week, gained 0.8 percent to 3,319.14. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.4 percent to 876.84, also its fourth consecutive record close.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares fell 0.2 percent at 692.47 on profit-taking, ending the index's five-day winning streak amid weakening trading value.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares retreated 1.4 percent to close at 1,895.61, as Bank Indonesia's decision to leave interest rates unchanged inspired profit-taking after the index hit a record high in the previous session.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's key stock index rose 0.5 percent on last-minute support by local funds. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips climbed to 1,277.48 points.
MANILA: Philippine markets were closed Thursday through Monday for the Easter holidays.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended higher for the third consecutive session, boosted by metals on hopes of price increases and bargain-buying in banking counters. The Sensex rose 0.5 percent, or 69.31 points, to 12,856.08.
SEOUL: South Korean shares fell, slipping from a record high on declines in steelmaker Posco and banks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 1.37 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,482.04 down from a record close of 1,483.86 hit Wednesday.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares hit a second straight record high, on follow-through buying in select market heavyweights due to strong earnings expectations. The benchmark Straits Times Index closed up 12.94 points, or 0.4 percent, at a record 3,345.86 points.
TAIWAN: Taiwanese markets are closed Thursday and Friday for the annual tomb sweeping holiday. They are scheduled to reopen Monday, April 9.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks broke their three-day winning streak, closing flat in lackluster trading going into the Easter break, and brokers expect the market to remain mired around current levels near-term. The benchmark NZX-50 slipped 3.3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,184.70.
SYDNEY: Australian shares ended lower, pulled down by investors who preferred to cash in their profits before Easter rather than leave it in the market over the four-day weekend. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 20.1 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,077.1, while the All Ordinaries index lost 15.6 points to 6,063.4.
With files from wire services
