Asian shares were trading mixed, the Associated Press reported.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.7% in afternoon trading to 27,808.75. Australia’s SandP/ASX 200 stood little changed, inching down less than 0.1% to 7,232.60. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.5% to 2,493.83. Trading was closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Qingming Festival, a holiday.
In other trading Wednesday, benchmark US crude gained 33 cents to $81.04 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose 29 cents to $80.71 per barrel on Tuesday. Brent crude rose 40 cents to $85.34 per barrel in London.
The US dollar slipped to 131.52 Japanese yen from 131.71 yen. The euro cost $1.0954, up from $1.0951.
Source: Saudi Press Agency