Asian markets settled mostly down on Wednesday as markets shrugged off overnight gains on Wall Street and ahead of congressional testimony by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Investors looked for further clues about whether another 75 basis point interest rate hike at the Fed's next meeting in July. Japanese shares ended lower on recession worries, while the yen hit a fresh 24-year low against the dollar on Bank of Japan’s ultra-loose monetary policy. Meanwhile, Chinese healthcare-related stocks declined in Hong Kong on speculation that authorities are turning to online pharmaceutical platforms as the next focus of regulatory crackdown.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,267.20 | -39.52 | -1.20 |
Hang Seng | 21,008.34 | -551.25 | -2.56 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,984.31 | -59.76 | -0.85 |
KLSE Composite | 1,431.10 | -26.78 | -1.84 |
Nikkei 225 | 26,149.55 | -96.76 | -0.37 |
Straits Times | 3,093.31 | -24.17 | -0.78 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,342.81 | -66.12 | -2.74 |
Taiwan Weighted | 15,347.75 | -380.89 | -2.42 |
