Asian markets ended mostly down on Wednesday as investors awaited more clarity on when the US Federal Reserve may start cutting interest rates. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari cautioned that US interest rates are likely to remain on hold for an extended period. Japanese shares led regional losses, slipping from multi-week highs hit in the previous session. Chinese shares declined on profit taking after rallying to over six-month highs on optimism over improving economic conditions in China and hopes on potential stimulus measures to revive the country's struggling property market.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,128.48 | -19.26 | -0.62 |
| Hang Seng | 18,313.86 | -165.51 | -0.90 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,088.80 | -34.81 | -0.49 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,604.75 | -0.93 | -0.06 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,202.37 | -632.73 | -1.66 |
| Straits Times | 3,264.53 | -35.51 | -1.09 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,745.05 | 10.69 | 0.39 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 20,700.51 | 46.98 | 0.23 |
