Beijing, China (BBN)-Chinese shares were higher on the last day of 2015 as trading volume remained thin with some of the region's biggest markets closed ahead of the new year.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.3 per cent to 21,947.07, while the Shanghai Composite rose by 0.2 per cent to 3,579.81 in early trade, reports BBC.
Chinese investors were looking ahead to manufacturing data due out on Friday.
The data should shed light on the extent of the slowdown in the world's second largest economy.
Economists expect the manufacturing surveys to show factory activity shrinking again in December.
Several markets are expected to close early ahead of New Year's Eve such as Hong Kong and Australia, while Japan and South Korea are closed for public holidays.
OIL CONTINUES TO WEIGH
In Sydney, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.2 per cent to 5,313.70 points.
Sliding oil prices hovering around 11-year-lows capped gains in energy-related stocks in Australia and across the region.
"The correlation between moves in the oil price and equity markets are becoming increasingly concerning and do not bode well for today's Asia session," said market strategist Angus Nicholson at trading firm IG in a note.
Crude oil prices held losses after falling 3 per cent overnight.
BBN/SK/AD