Major Asian stock markets closed mixed Tuesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained a fraction of one percent to finish at 9,972.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one-tenth of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,748.

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

In currency trading, the dollar was selling at 81.12 yen, a gain of just over one-quarter of a yen from Monday.

Gold is trading at $1,503.60 an ounce.