Asian equity markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday as the yen strengthened and weak earnings results from iPhone maker Apple put pressure on technology stocks. A sharp overnight rally in oil prices and positive industrial profits data out of China failed to lift investor sentiment ahead of key central bank decisions from the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. The Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting ends later today, with investors mainly looking for guidance on the outlook for interest rates. Rate decisions from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Bank of Japan are due on Thursday. Chinese shares ended lower even as positive industrial profits data boosted hopes the economic recovery is gaining momentum. Profits of China's major industrial firms climbed an annual 11.1% in March, up from a 4.8% rise in the Jan-Feb period. Japanese shares ended lower with a strengthening yen, disappointing earnings and anxiety ahead of the BOJ verdict weighing on markets.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,953.67 | -11.03 | -0.37 |
| Hang Seng | 21,361.60 | -45.67 | -0.21 |
| Jakarta Composite | 4,845.66 | 31.57 | 0.66 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,692.34 | -0.16 | -0.01 |
| Nikkei 225 | 17,290.49 | -62.79 | -0.36 |
| Straits Times | 2,874.72 | -19.94 | -0.69 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,015.40 | -4.23 | -0.21 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 8,563.05 | -18.52 | -0.22 |