Asia's Markets End Mixed

Asian shares, whose volatility this week has weighed heavily on the U.S. market, traded in a wide range overnight, with one of the hardest hit being the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo, down 1.4% to close at 17,218.

However, China's stocks firmed. The Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 advanced 1.4% to 2509, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng tacked on half a percent to end at 19,442.

Also on the upside, Vietnam rose 2.2%, and Jakarta was fractionally higher. Sri Lanka's market rose, as well.

Taiwan's Taiex slipped 0.1% to 7671, and South Korea's Kospi edged lower by 0.2% to 1414. The BSE Sensex in India dropped 2.1% to 12,886, and Singapore's Straits Times Index surrendered 0.5% to 3079.

Stocks in Europe were generally weaker. London's FTSE 100 was losing 0.3%, Frankfurt's Xetra DAX gave up 0.9%, and the Paris Cac 40 was lower by 0.8%.