Asian markets settled mostly lower on Wednesday as investors cautiously awaiting to the release of US inflation data this week for clues on Fed's next move. Seoul shares declined ahead of the Bank of Korea's interest rate decision due on Thursday. Moreover, Chinese shares dropped and hovering around multi-year lows following uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Taiwan election. Investors were also awaiting China's trade data later this week. However, Japanese shares gained sharply as recent data showing declines in Japanese inflation and wage growth bolstered expectations on a dovish BoJ, while weak yen supported the Japanese market.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,877.70 | -15.55 | -0.54 |
| Hang Seng | 16,097.28 | -92.74 | -0.58 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,227.30 | 27.10 | 0.37 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,486.86 | -11.97 | -0.80 |
| Nikkei 225 | 34,441.72 | 678.54 | 1.97 |
| Straits Times | 3,179.96 | -18.00 | -0.57 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,541.98 | -19.26 | -0.76 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,465.63 | -69.86 | -0.40 |
