Asian markets trade mostly lower in early deals on Thursday

Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading lower in the early deals on Thursday. Though, the data indicating a strengthening US economy offered a respite to weeks of market turmoil following the UK’s vote to leave the EU. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei share average fell modestly as investors remained wary after turmoil returned to global markets earlier in the week. Among the other Asian markets, Singapore, and Shanghai was marginally lower. Bucking the trend, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan are higher and the markets in Malaysia and Indonesia remained closed for Eid-ul-Fitr.

Nikkei 225 dipped 45.78 points or 0.30% to 15,333.21, Straits Times dropped 4.50 points or 0.16% to 2,860.17, and Shanghai Composite was down by 14.78 points or 0.49% to 3,002.51.

On the flip side, Hang Seng added 157.77 points or 0.77% to 20,653.06, KOSPI Index gained 18.89 points or 0.97% to 1,972.01, and Taiwan Weighted was up by 68.54 points or 0.80% to 8,644.29.