Asian markets settled higher on Wednesday tracking Wall Street gains overnight as last week's tamer than expected US consumer price inflation data reinforced market expectations of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve as early as March next year. Chinese and Hong Kong shares gained as video-game shares surged after Beijing’s top gaming regulator said it would carefully study the concerns of all shareholders on draft rules aimed at curbing excessive gaming and spending. Moreover, Japanese shares rose after BoJ board members discussed the potential timing of ending the negative rate policy during last week’s meeting, with various members indicating they see no rush to make the move.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,914.61 | 15.73 | 0.54 |
| Hang Seng | 16,624.84 | 284.43 | 1.71 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,245.92 | 8.40 | 0.12 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,454.22 | 3.44 | 0.24 |
| Nikkei 225 | 33,681.24 | 375.39 | 1.11 |
| Straits Times | 3,170.76 | 30.78 | 0.97 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,613.50 | 10.91 | 0.42 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,891.50 | 139.77 | 0.78 |
