Asian shares were mixed Thursday, trading in a narrow range as investors awaited new U.S. inflation data. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index was flat at 28,875.23 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged 0.2% higher to 28,885.52. In Seoul, the Kospi added 0.3% to 3,286.10. The Shanghai Composite index was virtually unchanged at 3,566.65, while Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.2% to 7,275.30, the Associated Press reported. In other trading, benchmark U.S. crude oil picked up 33 cents to $73.41 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained 23 cents to $73.08 per barrel on Wednesday. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 29 cents to $74.79 per barrel. The U.S. dollar fell to 110.88 Japanese yen from 110.99 yen. The euro rose to $1.1940 from $1.1930.
