Japan's Nikkei index ended a six-day winning streak
Stock markets across Asia mostly fell on Wednesday, following declines on Wall Street the previous day.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended a six-day winning streak, closing down 1.2% at 20,593.67.
Trading saw investors reacting to the resignation of Toshiba chief executive Hisao Tanaka following the company's accounting scandal.
Shares in the firm fell 1.7% following a 6% rise the previous day when the details of the scandal were revealed.
An independent investigation found the company had overstated its profits by a total of 151.8bn yen ($1.22bn, £780m) over a six-year period.
Volatility eases
Chinese shares closed mixed with the mainland market rising for the fifth consecutive day, while the Hong Kong shares followed the global lead.
The Shanghai Composite ended up 0.2% at 4,026.05, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1% to 25,282.62.
Investors were cautious as Shanghai shares have jumped about 20% from the low hit on 9 July and are nearing the key threshold level of 4,500.
This level is seen as the target for the bailout measures rolled out by the government since the market's sharp sell-off, according to analysts.
Australian rate cut?
In Australia, low commodity and gold prices pulled the ASX 200 down 1.6%, with the index closing at 5,614.60.
Shares in mining giant BHP Billiton fell 1.9% despite the company saying it had exceeded its production guidance for iron ore.
In its operational review, external, BHP said it was on track for additional growth in the current year.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said consumer prices in the second quarter rose 0.7% from the first three months of the year.
More importantly though, the annual pace of core inflation at about 2.3% was still well within the central bank's inflation target of 2-3%..
The data provided further evidence that underlying price pressures were easing, said Daniel Martin, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics.
"It raises the chances of the central bank cutting rates again, possibly even at its meeting next month."
In Seoul, South Korea's benchmark Kospi index also finished in negative territory, dropping 0.9% to 2,064.72.
Despite the won being at its weakest level against the dollar in two years, export-focused companies failed to benefit.
Car makers Kia and Hyundai were both unable to consolidate Tuesday's gains.
