Japan's Nikkei share average dropped to a near two-week low on Thursday, as a strong yen soured investor risk appetite and dragged stocks lower across the board.
The Nikkei fell 1.6 percent to 16,486.01, the lowest closing level since Aug. 5.
Asian shares are on track for their biggest single-day rise in nearly two weeks while the greenback retreated after minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting showed that the chances of a September rate hike are looking pretty slim.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.7 percent, its biggest rise since Aug. 8, as investors took the Fed's hesitancy as a reason to increase their positions after a 14 percent rise over the last two months. Tech and telecom firms shone.
China stocks surrendered early gains and ended Thursday lower, as financial shares dropped while property plays pared sharp gains on profit-taking.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.3 percent, to 3,364.49, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2 percent to 3,104.11 points.
Reference: Reuters
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