Major Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Thursday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,467.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,609.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.11, a gain of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.

Gold is trading at $1,533.88 an ounce.