Asian markets were mostly higher Thursday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.9 percent to 22,814.88, and the Kospi in South Korea rose 0.2 percent to 2,288.00. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 1.6 percent to 26,760.54. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.7 percent to 2,674.38. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.8 percent to 6,126.70. Stocks were higher in most of Southeast Asia. Benchmark U.S. crude, which had reached its highest price in two months on Wednesday, dropped 46 cents to $69.91 a barrel. The contract climbed 1.6 percent to settle at $70.37 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 41 cents to $79.33 a barrel. It added 0.9 percent to $79.74 a barrel in London. The dollar strengthened to 111.42 yen from 111.22 yen. The euro fell to $1.1624 from $1.1632.
