Asian shares were mostly lower Thursday, AP reported. The Shanghai Composite declined 0.7% to 2,906.07 in afternoon trading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.3% to 27,730.00. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.1% lower at 23,827.73, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.2% to 7,103.20. Shares were lower in Singapore, Thailand and India, while New Zealand rose. Benchmark crude oil lost 24 cents to $50.93 a barrel. It rose 37 cents to settle at $49.94 a barrel. Brent crude oil, the international standard, lost 42 cents to $55.37 a barrel. The dollar weakened to 109.776 yen from 110.08 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.0885 from $1.0876.