Asian stock markets were mixed and relatively muted Thursday after US chip-colossus Nvidia (NVDA) overnight reported earnings above expectations, and as crude oil prices held steady.
Hong Kong and Tokyo finished moderately in the red, while Shanghai gained ground. Other regional exchanges were mixed on the high side.
Brent crude oil futures traded steadily during Asian market hours, near $87.10 a barrel.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher after Nvidia's solid earnings report but waffled thereafter, finishing off 0.2% lower as traders booked profits and awaited fresh catalysts.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 130.18 to 66,131.98, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 116 to 105.
Leading the upside was memory-chip maker Kioxia, up 5%, while semiconductor-test equipment maker Advantest fell 3%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and could not recover, closing down 0.3% as property issues weakened.
The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 87.23 to 25,565.74 as losing issues outnumbered gainers 60 to 31. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1.2%.
Leading the upside was Hansoh Pharmaceutical, gaining 16% after reporting quarterly results, while phone-maker Xiaomi declined 3.4%.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 1.1% to 3,956.57.
On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.5%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.3%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.6%, and the Thai Set declined 0.1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.7%.
The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6% on the day.