Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained a fraction of one percent to finish at 8,616.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost more than six-tenths of one percent to finish the day's trading at 18,011.

Share prices were higher in Manila, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington, but lower in Shanghai.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar was selling at 76.44 yen, a loss of more than one-quarter of a yen from Tuesday.