Asian shares dipped on Thursday after lower crude oil prices dented Wall Street and a pair of Chinese manufacturing surveys did little to inspire investors as markets waited to see if U.S. employment data could put the Federal Reserve on track to hike interest rates.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was off its session lows but still down 0.2 percent, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index shed 0.3 percent.
Japanese stocks edged up to three-month closing highs in choppy trade on Thursday after gains by banks offset weak mining shares, while many investors waited for U.S. jobs data that could provide clues on when there will be an interest rate hike.
The Nikkei share average, which moved in and out of positive territory, gained 0.2 percent to 16,926.84, the highest closing level since June 1.
China stocks finished lower on Thursday dragged by real estate shares, as official August purchasing managers' index (PMI) data showed activity slowing in the construction sector.
The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.8 percent to 3,301.58 points, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.7 percent to 3,063.31 points.
Reference: Reuters
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