Major Asian stock markets closed mixed Tuesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two-thirds of one percent to finish at 9,443.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one-third of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,869.

Share prices were higher in Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, but lower in Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Sydney and Wellington. The exchange in Kuala Lumpur closed virtually unchanged.

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.20, a gain of one-tenth of a yen from Monday.

Gold is trading at $1,548.95 an ounce.