The Asian markets ended mixed on Wednesday, in a thin trading session, as Taiwan, China and Hong Kong markets closed for the Qingming Festival, a holiday. There was some optimism that data indicating a slowing US economy that could allow the Federal Reserve (Fed) to slow its interest rate hikes. Though, lingering concerns about the global economic outlook and worries about the impact of surging oil prices on inflation, weighted down on the markets. Japan stock market led regional losses as a stronger yen weighed on export-oriented stocks. Traders shrugged off data showing that Japan's services sector activity grew at the fastest rate in over nine years in March. Jibun Bank revealed a services PMI score of 55.0. That's up from 54.0 in February and it moves further above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | -- | -- | -- |
| Hang Seng | -- | -- | -- |
| Jakarta Composite | 6,819.68 | -13.50 | -0.20 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,429.55 | -0.06 | 0.00 |
| Nikkei 225 | 27,813.26 | -474.16 | -1.70 |
| Straits Times | 3,318.87 | 7.75 | 0.23 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,495.21 | 14.70 | 0.59 |
| Taiwan Weighted | -- | -- | -- |
