Asian equity markets ended mixed on Tuesday as weak overnight cues from Wall Street and Europe as well as the oil price volatility kept investors in a defensive mode ahead of central bank meetings in the US and Japan. The two-day FOMC meeting gets underway later today, with traders waiting for clues as to the probability of a June rate hike. Chinese shares reversed early losses to end slightly higher, as a rally in healthcare and real estate shares offset initial gloom triggered by falling commodity prices in the wake of a government crackdown on speculation. Japanese shares fell for a second straight day as the yen held Monday's gains against the dollar despite speculation the Bank of Japan will expand stimulus at its April 27-28 policy meeting.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,964.70 | 18.03 | 0.61 |
| Hang Seng | 21,407.27 | 102.83 | 0.48 |
| Jakarta Composite | 4,814.09 | -64.77 | -1.33 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,692.50 | -22.01 | -1.28 |
| Nikkei 225 | 17,353.28 | -86.02 | -0.49 |
| Straits Times | 2,894.66 | -5.62 | -0.19 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,019.63 | 5.08 | 0.25 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 8,581.57 | 21.29 | 0.25 |