Asian stock markets were lower on Thursday, AP reported. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.3 percent to 23,707.31 and South Korea's Kospi retreated 0.6 percent to 2,485.75. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dipped 0.1 percent to 31,032.51 while China's Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5 percent to 3,405.93. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slumped 0.6 percent to 6,057.10. Most stock markets in Southeast Asia were weaker. The dollar rose to 111.73 Japanese yen from 111.43 yen. The euro was flat at $1.1948. Benchmark U.S. crude lost 3 cents to $63.54 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added 61 cents to settle at $63.57 per barrel on Wednesday. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 10 cents to $69.10 per barrel in London. It gained 38 cents to $69.20 a barrel on Wednesday.
