Tokyo stocks extended gains on Thursday, as a softer yen and overnight gains in the US Dow Jones Industrial Average supported broad-based buying. The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, rose 218.52 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 51,281.83.Around midday Japan

Hong Kong stocks market ended higher on Thursday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.56 percent to close at 27,073.03 points.

Chinese stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.73 percent to 4,029.5 points.The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.78 percent higher at 13,476.52 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 2.55 percent to close at 3,201.75 points Thursday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Chinese stocks opened lower on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.09 percent to open at 3,996.51 points.The Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.09 percent lower at 13,228.5 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, was down 0.09 percent to open at 3,119.09 points Thursday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 32 pips to 7.0865 against the U.S. dollar Thursday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 143.25 points, or 0.53 percent, to open at 26,779.48 points on Thursday.

Hong Kong's stock market ended higher on Wednesday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.85 percent to close at 26,922.73 points. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 0.82 percent to end at 9,538.99 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index edged up 0.16 percent to 5,933.99 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 0.39 percent to close at 3,122.03 points Wednesday.

Chinese stocks closed lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.07 percent to 4,000.14 points.The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.36 percent lower at 13,240.62 points.

Chinese stocks opened lower on Wednesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.15 percent to open at 3,996.56 points.The Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.36 percent lower at 13,240.7 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, was down 0.37 percent to open at 3,122.58 points Wednesday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 58.52 points or 0.22 percent to open at 26,754.93 points on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Tuesday as investors took a breather following Monday's strong rally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 559.33 points, or 1.18 percent, to 47,927.96. The S&P 500 added 14.18 points, or 0.21 percent, to 6,846.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 58.87 points, or 0.25

Hong Kong's stock market ended higher Tuesday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.18 percent to close at 26,696.41 points. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 0.19 percent to end at 9,461.49 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index edged up 0.15 percent to 5,924.39 points.

Chinese stocks opened higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.13 percent to open at 4,023.88 points.The Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.36 percent higher at 13,476.25 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, was up 0.58 percent to open at 3,197.12 points Tuesday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The Hang Seng Index gained 99.03 points, or 0.37 percent, to open at 26,748.09 points on Tuesday.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 10 pips to 7.0866 against the U.S. dollar Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity