Asian shares are mixed after Wall Street pulls near its all-time high

Asian shares were mixed on Thursday after U.S. stocks rose to near their records. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were slightly higher. Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 2.3% to 51,028.42, nearing its all-time high, on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate next week, even while traders speculate over whether the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates this month.