Asian stock markets closed mixed Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,720.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish the day's trading at 23,626.

Share prices were higher in Manila, Taipei and Wellington. Trading was either flat or unchanged in Shanghai and Sydney.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 81.42, a loss of one-tenth of a yen from Tuesday.