Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Shares in Asia were mixed on Wednesday following rallies across several markets earlier in the week and despite gains on Wall Street.
After a positive start, Japan’s Nikkei 225 finished down 1.36 per cent to 15,836.36, ending two days of gains, reports BBC.
Some of the country’s big exporters held back the index, including Toyota which shed 2.8 per cent.
Overnight falls in oil prices also weighed on investor sentiment. Brent crude fell 3.4 per cent and US crude fell 2.1 per cent.
In China, markets were divided, with the Shanghai Composite finishing up 1.08 per cent to 2,867.34 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 1.03 per cent at 18,924.57 in afternoon trade.
Australia’s ASX 200 index closed down 0.57 per cent to 4,882.1 points amid the country’s busy earning season.
Woodside Petroleum, Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company, posted a 99 per cent fall in profits for the 12 months to December, sending its shares down 7 per cent.
Meanwhile, the largest franchisee for the Domino’s Pizza brand outside the US – Domino’s Australia – posted a more than 55 per cent rise in profits for the six months to December.
The firm also announced its second profit upgrade since December.
Its Sydney-listed shares rose more than 10 per cent on the news and finished the day up 6 per cent.
South Korea’s Kospi index finished the day in negative territory, down 0.23 per cent to 1,883.94 points.
BBN/SK/AD