China

The Chinese mainland stock markets closed mixed on Thursday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 24.519 points, or 0.77 pct to close at 3197.537, While the Shenzhen Stock Index dropped 8.023 points, or 0.09 pct, to end the day at 8579.324.

Japan

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 9.21, or 0.1 percent, to 17,263.94 in Tokyo, reversing a decline of as much as 1.3 percent. The broader Topix index lost 0.38 point to 1710.68. It earlier dropped as much as 1.4 percent and rose as much as 0.5 percent.

Australian

Australian oil stocks gained, led by Woodside Petroleum Ltd. and BHP Billiton, after crude prices traded near a six-month high.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 37.70, or 0.6 percent, to 5960.90 at the close in Sydney. About twice as many stocks rose as fell. The benchmark is heading for a 5.1 percent gain this quarter, its fifteenth rise in the past 16 quarters. New Zealand's NZX 50 Index added 0.1 percent to 4112.55 in Wellington.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index's futures contract for June added 0.5 percent to 6009. The broader All Ordinaries Index rose 0.6 percent to 5945.70.