Major Asian stock markets closed mostly higher Wednesday.

Tokyo's Nikkei index fell nearly one-half of one percent to finish at 8,739.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained just over one percent to finish the day's trading at 18,329.

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

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar was selling at 76.68 yen, a gain of a fraction of a yen from Tuesday.

Gold is trading at $1,683.03 an ounce.