Asian stock markets largely churned Thursday, as higher global crude prices continue to weigh on trader sentiments, but bond yields mildly eased.
Hong Kong and Tokyo finished moderately in the red, while other regional exchanges were mixed and muted.
Brent crude oil futures rose 1.6% to $97.27 a barrel during Asian market hours.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly, but finished down 0.2% after major retailer Fast Retailing logged a decline in August sales, on year.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 111.16 to 64,214.48, though gaining issues outnumbered losers 140 to 82.
Leading the upside was furnishings enterprise Nitori, up 8.4%, while oil-driller Inpex declined 4%.
In economic news, the S&P Global Japan composite purchase managers index (PMI) logged at 53.5 last month, up from 52.7 in July, and striking further above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.
Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds touched 2.97%, slipping below the 3% mark crossed Wednesday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher, but declined in trading, finishing down 0.4% on softer tech issues.
The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 97.9 to 25,213.31, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 50 to 42. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 1.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 1.6%.
Leading the upside was Sino Biopharmaceuticals, gaining 6.3%, while Trip.com declined 5.4%.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite finished almost flat at 3,942.09.
In economic news, the broader China Composite Output Index rose to 52.1 in August from 50.8 the month prior, S&P said.
On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.3%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.7%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.5%; and the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.1%, as did the Thai Set. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.2%.