Asian markets closed mixed on Thursday, as investors remained on edge ahead of the U.K. vote on whether to leave the European Union (EU).

Australia’s ASX 200 ended up 9.75 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 5,280.70, with the materials sub-index advancing 1.62 per cent. Major miners saw more than 1 per cent advances, with shares of Rio Tinto closing up 2.74 per cent and Fortescue rising 8.28 per cent.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 ended up 172.63 points, or 1.07 per cent, at 16,238.35, while across the Korean Strait, the Kospi ended down 5.87 points, or 0.29 per cent, at 1,986.71.

Chinese mainland markets closed down, with the Shanghai composite shedding 13.49 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 2,892.05 and the Shenzhen composite ending lower by 6.17 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 1,915.20. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index edged up 0.2 per cent in late-afternoon trading.