Asian markets likely drew strength from higher oil prices, closing mostly higher Thursday after wavering throughout the trading session.
Japanese markets were again shuttered for holiday. Korean markets also had the day off
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 76.01 points, or 0.4%, to 20,449.82
The gains followed uncertain trade in the wake of a reading on China's economy showing growth in the services sector moderated and as the U.S. dollar strengthened.
Energy shares were mostly higher in Australia, with Origin Energy tacking on 3.5% and Santos adding 2.6%. Hong Kong-listed shares of Petrochina added 0.2%
Major resource producers were mixed, with shares of Fortescue Metals falling 3.2%, while Rio Tinto's shares increased 0.4%
BHP Billiton lost 1.9%, extending Wednesday's 9.4% plunge as investors digested news of a 155-billion-real ($43 billion U.S.) civil lawsuit against iron miner Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton for a dam spill which killed 19 people and polluted a major river in Brazil in November.
Australia's March retail sales rose 0.4% from the previous month, but the uptick did not reflect strongly in the shares of major Australian retailers. Wesfarmers and Harvey Norman were down 1.6% and 0.6% respectively, while Woolworths was up 1%
The Australian dollar/U.S. dollar pair was trading at 0.7493, down from levels a tad above $0.77 before the Reserve Bank of Australia surprised markets on Tuesday with a 25-basis-point interest rate cut to a record low 1.75%
The Japanese yen, which is seen has a safe haven currency, remained relatively strong, with the dollar-yen pair at 107.26, down from levels over 111.50 last week.
CHINA
The CSI 300 Index regained 4.46 points, or 0.1%, to 3,213.92.
Mainland-listed shares of China Oilfield fell 0.5% In China, Baoshan Steel was down 0.7% and Aluminium Corp of China was unchanged.
The China Caixin services purchasing mangers' index (PMI), released Thursday morning local time, came in at 51.8 for April, continuing to show expansion, but marking a moderation from 52.2 in March. A reading above 50 indicates activity is growing, while one below that level suggests a contraction.
In other markets;
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dropped 5.26 points, or 0.2%, to 2,767.81
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index retreated 17.51 points, or 0.2%, to 8,167.96
New Zealand’s NZX 50 restocked 51.98 points, or 0.8%, to 6,876.48
The ASX 200 added 7.92 points, or 0.2%, to 5,279.09
