China
Chinese equities closed lower on Thursday with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.79 percent, or 22.68 points, to close at 2,855.22 points.
The Shenzhen Component Index lost 0.96 percent, or 122.38 points, to close at 12,644.58 points.
Combined turnover shrank to 209.64 billion yuan (31.76 billion U.S. dollars), down from 239.84 billion yuan the previous trading day.
Losers outnumbered gainers 733 to 140 in Shanghai and 1001 to 130 in Shenzhen.
Hong Kong stocks closed down 142. 22 points, or 0.62 percent, at 22,902.97 on Thursday.
Turnover decreased to 43.98 billion HK dollars from Wednesday's 54.20 billion HK dollars (1 U.S. dollar equals to 7.779 HK dollar).
Japan
Japan's Nikkei 225 Index was closed in observance of the Emperor's Birthday.
Australia
The Australian share market remained slightly higher at noon on the pre-Christmas expiry of equity options.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 17.1 points, or 0.36 per cent, at 4,795.5 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 15.4 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 4,885 points.
