Asian markets mixed; Nikkei ends up 61pts

Asian markets continued to exhibit mixed trend.

Japan's Nikkei has ended with a gain of 61 points at 17,481.

The Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite indices are down around 30 odd points each at 19,661 and 3040, respectively.

The Straits Times index has slipped 11 points to 3208, and the Seoul Composite index is down one point at 1447.

The Taiwan Weighted index, however, has gained 36 points at 7859.