Markets were mixed Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei down as bitcoin hit a new high and investors braced for talks between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska.

Bitcoin hit a new peak during early Asian trading, with the cryptocurrency briefly exceeding $124,500 before retreating, driven by favourable US legislation and a rise in US equities.

"The crypto market is enjoying a period of highly favorable fundamentals," said Samer Hasn, senior market analyst at XS.com .

Hopes of a US interest rate cut after soft inflation data pushed Tokyo's Nikkei to its second record close in as many days on Wednesday, but on Thursday the index closed down 1.45 percent.

Hong Kong and Taipei also fell while Seoul edged up. London, Frankfurt and Paris were all higher in early trade.

With US President Don

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