Asian markets settled mostly higher on Wednesday due to continued market confidence in interest rate cut prospects in the United States next year, despite pushback from some Fed policymakers. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the US November core personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index report due on Friday for more cues on the Fed's rate path. Japanese shares gained after the country’s central bank (BoJ) left its ultra-loose monetary policy unchanged at its final meeting this year. However, Chinese shares fell, even as China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged at the monthly fixing, matching market expectations.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,902.11 | -30.28 | -1.04 |
| Hang Seng | 16,613.81 | 108.81 | 0.65 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,219.67 | 31.82 | 0.44 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,464.56 | -1.11 | -0.08 |
| Nikkei 225 | 33,675.94 | 456.55 | 1.36 |
| Straits Times | 3,108.03 | -8.59 | -0.28 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,614.30 | 45.75 | 1.75 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,635.20 | 58.65 | 0.33 |
