Asian markets settled mostly down on Thursday, tracking Wall Street shares overnight fall due to doubts over exactly when the US Federal Reserve will begin trimming interest rates. Even as US Fed expected three quarter point rate cuts by the end of 2024. Japanese shares declined as markets reopened after an extended New Year’s holiday during which Japan witnessed a major earthquake and an accident involving Japan Airlines. Further, Chinese shares fell after Fitch downgraded the issuer default ratings of four Chinese national asset management companies and flagged more potential downgrades on hopes of weaker government support and headwinds from a property market slump.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,954.35 | -12.90 | -0.44 |
| Hang Seng | 16,645.98 | -0.43 | 0.00 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,359.76 | 80.67 | 1.10 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,477.26 | 14.89 | 1.02 |
| Nikkei 225 | 33,288.29 | -175.88 | -0.53 |
| Straits Times | 3,174.01 | -25.43 | -0.80 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,587.02 | -20.29 | -0.78 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,549.65 | -9.66 | -0.06 |
