Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down -0.37%, Shanghai Composite down -0.71%, Hang Seng down -0.53% ASX down -0.10%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,238.975 (0.06%), Silver at $61.570 (1.18%), Brent Oil at $62.04 (0.15%), WTI Oil at $58.35 (0.17%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.182, UK 10-year yield at 4.5060, Germany 10-year yield at 2.8519
News & Data:
- (USD) JOLTS Job Openings 7.67M to 7.14M expected
Markets Update:
Asian stock markets traded mostly lower on Wednesday, mirroring the mixed cues from Wall Street as investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement. While the Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, uncertainty persists regarding the longer-term rate outlook. Traders will closely examine the Fed’s statement and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments for future signals. The CME FedWatch Tool shows an 87% probability of a quarter-point cut, but expectations for January remain divided.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 is slightly lower, weighed by energy stocks and subdued sentiment across most sectors, though mining stocks are providing modest support. The Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates unchanged for the third consecutive meeting, noting inflation risks. Major miners like Rio Tinto and Mineral Resources posted gains, while oil producers such as Santos and Woodside declined. Tech stocks were mixed, and the big four banks traded mostly lower. Gold miners advanced strongly. The Australian dollar hovered around $0.663.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 also moved lower, reversing earlier gains amid sector-wise mixed performance. Automakers Honda and Toyota rose, while tech firms like Advantest slipped. Exporters such as Panasonic advanced sharply. Producer price data for November met expectations, rising 0.3 percent monthly and 2.7 percent annually. The yen traded in the upper 156-per-dollar range.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mostly weak, while Wall Street and European markets ended Tuesday’s session mixed. Crude oil prices fell on renewed Iraqi supply and a stronger US dollar.
Upcoming Events:
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