Asian-Pacific benchmarks closed mixed on declining crude-oil prices to a three-week low. The Nikkei shed 0.56% as investors sold steel, bank and real estate issues, the central bank said that it would keep monetary policy and national elections approached. Across the region Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost0.38%, while South Korea’s Kospi reached a record high, rising 0.2% on interest-rate hikes speculations. The dollar bought 110.40 yen.

European markets finished the trading session mixed on weak U.S. stocks and mixed earnings reports, including declining building-materials maker Lafrage and gaining luxury retailer PPR. The German DAX 30 added 0.09%, the French CAC 40 lost 0.45%, and London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.47%.

ENERGY, METALS, CURRENCIES

Crude oil prices started rising ahead of U.S. data, expected to show a sharp decline in crude and product stocks. Light sweet crude after trading up and down and then up, settled up 12 cents to $64.49 a barrel. London Brent climbed 65 cents to $63.54.

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