DHAKA: Asian shares were lower on Thursday as falling oil prices weighed on energy stocks in the region.
The US dollar also strengthened after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen signaled readiness to raise interest rates, reports the BBC.
Brent crude also tumbled over 4% to $42.49 a barrel after OPEC countries suggested there would be no production cuts at their meeting.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index traded flat at 19,937.05, reversing earlier losses.
Chinese shares opened lower with the Shanghai Composite index down 0.4% to 3,524.02, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.6% to 22,341.15.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index was lower by 0.5% to 5,234.30 on the weakness in other commodity prices.
Government data also showed that the value of exports fell a seasonally adjusted 3% in October, mainly due to lower demand for commodities such as gold.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index fell 1.1% to 1,985.67 despite a revision to third quarter growth figures which showed more of acceleration in the economy.
The economy grew 1.3% in the three months to September from the previous quarter, versus an originally stated 1.2%, which was the fastest pace since mid-2010.
On an annual basis, growth rose 2.7%, compared to 2.6% initially forecast.
BDST: 1237 HRS, DEC 03, 2015
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** Asian shares mixed despite Wall Street lead
