Asian shares edged lower Wednesday, despite relatively strong regional earnings news and demand prospects.
Samsung is down despite saying it expects a small shortage in DRAM and NAND computer memory chips next year.
Top Japanese broker Nomura gained ahead of earnings showing its second straight quarterly profit, thanks to strong sales of investment trusts and gains from trading.
Nomura has expanded its trading business in Europe through the purchase of some operations of the Lehman Brothers investment bank.
Honda gained after tripling its profit forecast, but most exporters and the Nikkei eased as the yen moved higher against the dollar.
PetroChina, the world's most valuable oil and gas producer, posted its best profit in a year. It comes as higher fuel prices in China offset a steep slide in crude oil prices.
The giant produces over 70 percent of China's total natural gas and is expected to see profit of nearly $20 billion in 2010.
