Asian Stocks Close Mixed Thursday

Updated from 1:11 a.m. EDT

Asian stock markets closed lower Thursday as global economic concerns remain despite the U.S. Senate's approval on Wednesday night of a revised rescue plan for the U.S. financial sector.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average closed down by 1.9% to 11,154.76. Auto stocks, such as Toyota Motor (TM Quote), Honda Motor(HMC Quote), and Nissan Motor, fell sharply. Toyota said Wednesday that car sales in September in the U.S. fell 29.5%, a greater-than-expected decline. U.S. auto sales overall in September continued their downward spiral as buyers struggled with both high gas prices and tightening credit conditions.

The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose more than 1%, helped by a rally in Ping An Insurance after Fortis scrapped an asset management deal with the Chinese insurer. Markets in Australia, China and South Korea fell. ...