Major Asian stock markets closed mixed Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one-quarter of one percent to finish at 9,574.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost nearly three-quarters of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,344.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 80.68, a gain of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Tuesday.

Gold is trading at $1,519.81 an ounce.