Asian shares were mostly lower Thursday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.6 percent in early trading to 21,726.26. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.9 percent to 5,962.90. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.4 percent to 30,718.11, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2 percent to 3,266.03. South Korean markets were closed for Independence Movement Day, a national holiday. Benchmark U.S. crude added 2 cents to $61.66 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1 cent to $64.72 per barrel. The dollar dipped to 106.68 Japanese yen from 107.18 yen late Wednesday. The euro fell to $1.2189 from $1.2202.
