Asian markets settled higher on Thursday after dovish Fed commentary bolstered speculation that the US central bank is heading toward a pause in interest rate hikes. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting US consumer price inflation data, due out later in the day. Japanese shares led gains by rally in chip-related companies, despite data showed core machinery orders declined for a second straight month in August and the pace of gains in producer prices decelerated more than expected in September. Chinese shares rose after China’s $1.35 trillion sovereign wealth fund is increasing its equity stakes in four biggest banks and said it intends to continue to increase its holdings in the next six months.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,107.90 | 28.94 | 0.93 |
| Hang Seng | 18,238.21 | 345.11 | 1.89 |
| Jakarta Composite | 6,935.15 | 3.40 | 0.05 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,443.82 | 7.33 | 0.51 |
| Nikkei 225 | 32,494.66 | 558.15 | 1.72 |
| Straits Times | 3,218.69 | 25.82 | 0.80 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,479.82 | 29.74 | 1.20 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 16,825.91 | 153.88 | 0.91 |
