Asian equity markets ended mixed on Wednesday as oil prices surged and ahead of the Federal Reserve's first meeting since the appointment of its new chair, Jerome Powell. The Federal Reserve policymakers have begun a two-day policy meeting that is expected to result in another interest rate increase on Wednesday. The Fed has said it expects to raise interest rates a total of three times this year, and one of the key debates on Wall Street is whether it will wind up increasing rates three times or four. The current meeting is the Fed's first since Jerome Powell became chairman, and investors will be watching his comments at a press conference Wednesday. Chinese shares ended lower, weighed down by start-up firms, as investors booked profits in shares of technology companies. Meanwhile, the Japanese market is closed for the Vernal Equinox.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,280.95 | -9.69 | -0.29 |
Hang Seng | 31,414.52 | -135.41 | -0.43 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,312.83 | 69.25 | 1.11 |
KLSE Composite | 1,865.80 | 9.41 | 0.51 |
Nikkei 225 | - | - | - |
Straits Times | 3,511.13 | -2.18 | -0.06 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,484.97 | -0.55 | -0.02 |
Taiwan Weighted | 11,011.07 | 0.23 | -- |
