Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index lost 0.3 percent to 19,544.07 and South Korea's Kospi shed 0.1 percent to 2,130.80. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong edged 0.1 percent lower to 23,815.03 but the Shanghai Composite Index recouped early losses to rise 0.1 percent to 3,241.13. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.2 percent to 5,772.90. Shares also fell in most of Southeast Asia. Oil prices bounced after a slump in U.S. trading fueled by oversupply concerns. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 79 cents to $48.51 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost 68 cents, or 1.4 percent, to settle at $47.72 a barrel on Tuesday. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, added 73 cents to $51.65 per barrel in London. The dollar climbed to 114.78 yen from 114.76 yen late Tuesday. The euro rose to $1.0615 from $1.0605. The pound rose to $1.2163 from $1.2153.
