TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Average was up 0.3% at 10,211.61, and the Topix was 0.2% higher at 900.12 in early trading Thursday, with auto makers among the bigger advancers. Mazda Motor Corp. (JP:7261 203.00, +1.00, +0.50%) (MZDAF 2.17, -0.11, -4.82%) saw its stock climb 3%, and Toyota Motor Corp. (TM 85.12, +0.99, +1.18%) (JP:7203 3,760, +60.00, +1.62%) added 0.8%. But bank shares traded mainly lower after posting hefty gains in the previous session on hopes for a delayed introduction of stricter capital requirements. Shares of Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. (JP:8404 89.00, +7.00, +8.54%) (MZATF 0.91, 0.00, -0.15%) fell 2.3% and Shinsei Bank (JP:8303 118.00, +14.00, +13.46%) (SKLKF 1.27, +0.13, +11.40%) fell 1.7%. Tokyo-listed shares of Citigroup Inc. (C 3.21, -0.24, -6.96%) (JP:8710 324.00, -10.00, -2.99%) lost 9.6% amid a sell off in its U.S. counterparts. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell less than 0.1%.
