Asian shares were mixed, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 1.0 percent to 19,179.26, as the U.S. dollar fell back against the yen, potentially hurting exporters' earnings. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dipped 0.4 percent to 22,850.17, and the Shanghai Composite gained 0.1 percent to 3,141.13. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.1 percent to 5,766.90 and South Korea's Kospi gained 0.2 percent at 2,079.83. Shares in Southeast Asia were mostly higher. Benchmark crude oil dipped 8 cents to $52.17 a barrel. It rose $1.43, or 2.8 percent, to close at $52.25 a barrel in New York on Wednesday. Brent crude, which is used to price oil sold internationally, rose 1 cents to $55.01. The dollar fell to 114.61 yen from 115.43 on Wednesday. The euro rose to $1.0603 from $1.0576.
