Asian equity markets ended mostly higher on Wednesday, even as Japanese shares ended flat as the yen's retreat halted ahead of the Fed minutes due to be released later in the day. The minutes may provide more insight on the probability of a March interest rate hike, with traders putting their rate hike odds for March at 20 percent. Meanwhile, Chinese shares ended higher after official data showed China's housing market continued to cool in January, a welcome sign for policymakers worried about a generalized bubble developing in the market.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,261.22 | 7.89 | 0.24 |
Hang Seng | 24,201.96 | 238.33 | 0.99 |
Jakarta Composite | 5,358.68 | 17.69 | 0.33 |
KLSE Composite | 1,708.08 | 1.53 | 0.09 |
Nikkei 225 | 19,379.87 | -1.57 | -0.01 |
Straits Times | 3,122.20 | 28.01 | 0.91 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,106.61 | 3.68 | 0.18 |
Taiwan Weighted | 9,778.78 | 14.85 | 0.15 |