Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.2 percent to 19,283.65 as a weaker yen lifted shares of exporters. South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.1 percent to 2,093.31 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1 percent to 23,522.78. The Shanghai Composite index in mainland China slid 0.8 percent to 3,215.47 and Australia's S&P ASX 200 shed 0.3 percent to 5,741.20. Benchmarks in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia also lost ground. The dollar rose to 114.55 yen from 114.33 yen. The euro slipped to $1.0532 from $1.0539. Major U.S. benchmarks fell for the third day in a row.
