Asian markets settled higher on Wednesday with Japanese markets led regional gains as technology shares tracked their US peers higher. However, some gains were limited by anxiety over upcoming French elections, escalating tensions in the Middle East and hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials. Federal Reserve governor Michelle Bowman has warned of upside risks to the inflation outlook and reiterated the need to keep borrowing costs elevated for some time. The are still not yet at the point where it is appropriate to lower the policy rate. Investors were cautiously awaiting the release of key US inflation reading, due later this week for directional cues.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,972.53 | 22.53 | 0.76 |
| Hang Seng | 18,089.93 | 17.03 | 0.09 |
| Jakarta Composite | 6,905.64 | 22.94 | 0.33 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,590.95 | 5.57 | 0.35 |
| Nikkei 225 | 39,667.07 | 493.92 | 1.26 |
| Straits Times | 3,331.70 | 5.42 | 0.16 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,792.05 | 17.66 | 0.64 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 22,986.69 | 110.72 | 0.48 |
