Mainland China and Hong Kong stocks had mixed flat openings on Thursday as Japan's Topix index rose to a record high and the Nikkei share average hit a new one-year peak in a second straight session of gains after Tokyo struck a long-awaited trade deal with Washington.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index lost nine points, or 0.04 percent, to open at 25,528.

Across the border, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened down 0.09 percent at 3,578 while the Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.1 percent higher at 11,069.

In Tokyo, the Topix advanced as much as 1.86 percent, or 54 points, in mid-morning trading at 2,980 for the first time ever.

The Nikkei was up 770 points, or 1.87 percent, at 41,942. (Reuters/Xinhua)