Asian stock markets retreated Thursday as investors looked ahead to a speech by the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman for signs of more support to an economic recovery. Market benchmarks in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul fell while Shanghai was higher. The Shanghai Composite Index erased early losses, gaining 0.4% to 3,340.26, while the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo fell 0.5% to 23,186.61. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1% to 25,212.01. The Kospi in Seoul shed 0.6% to 2,355.57 while Australia's S&P-ASX 200 advanced 0.4% to 6,140.60. New Zealand and Jakarta gained while Singapore retreated, AP reported. Benchmark U.S. crude oil for October delivery lost 7 cents to $43.32 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 4 cents on Wednesday to $43.39. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, added 1 cent to $46.17 per barrel in London. It fell 22 cents the previous session to $45.64. The dollar held steady at 106.00 yen. The euro edged down to $1.1827 from $1.1831.