China

The Chinese mainland stock markets closed mixed on Thursday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index dropped 4.40 points, or 0.24 pct at 1851.31. The Shenzhen Stock Index gained 13.96 points, or 0.30 pct, to end the day at 4657.13.

Hong Kong stocks surged 261.13 points, or 1.42 percent, to close at 18,714.78.

Japan

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 25.24, or 0.2 percent, to 16,350.02 at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo. The broader Topix index slipped 3.49, or 0.2 percent, to 1619.02.

Australian

The S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 7.0, or 0.1 percent, to 5409.40 at the 4:10 p.m. close in Sydney, retreating from yesterday's all-time high. Ninety-six stocks fell and 77 rose.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index's futures contract for December added 0.1 percent to 5402. The broader All Ordinaries Index fell 0.1 percent to 5377.10.