SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Asian stock markets were mostly higher Thursday after a surge in new home sales in the U.S. bolstered sentiment. But gains were limited by worries about Europe’s stagnant economy and violence in Iraq and Syria.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan outperformed the region with the Nikkei 225 up 1.2 percent to 16,364.74 after the dollar rose above 109 yen overnight, a fresh six-year high. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.3 percent to 2,351.39. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.1 percent to 5,380.30. Stocks in Southeast Asia rose. South Korea’s Kospi drifted 0.1 percent lower to 2,034.80 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged down 0.2 percent to 23,884.90.