Asian markets trade lower

Asian markets were trading mostly in the red after weak closing on Wall Street due to disappointing jobless claims data.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.3%, at 10,558 after lower-than-expected options settlement for the month of January, while technology shares outperformed after Intel's fourth quarter earning beat forecast. South Korea's Kospi Composite was trading flat at 2,089 .

Hong Kong markets were also unchanged at 24,246; insurers and coal producer shares weighed, but banking stocks lend support. China's Shanghai Composite was down 1%, at 2,800.

Straits Times and Taiwan Weighted were trading marginally lower.