Asian markets mixed; Nikkei down 22pts

Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend.

The Nikkei has slipped 22 points to 17,500 and the Hang Seng has shed 35 points to 19,731.

On the other hand, the Taiwan Weighted index has advanced 36 points to 7914, and the Straits Times index has added 23 points to 3227.

The Shanghai Composite and Seoul Composite indices are up four points each at 3127 and 1454, respectively.