Stock market today: Asian shares advance after a mixed finish on Wall Street

Asian shares are mostly higher, with Japan's benchmark registering strong gains for a second straight day. Oil prices and U.S. futures declined. On Thursday, Wall Street had a mixed finish as losses for some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years.