Asian markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday tracking Wall Streets’ falls overnight and as upbeat US economic data led investors to scale back Fed interest rate cut bets. Investors are awaiting the release of minutes of the US Federal Reserve's December policy meeting and ADP employment data. Japanese shares declined, while Japanese yen sagged close to levels that drew intervention last year undermined by the Bank of Japan interest rate hike uncertainty. Hong Kong shares declined as the yuan fell to its lowest level since September 2023 despite renewed efforts by the country's central bank to support the currency. However, Chinese shares gained as regulators announced plans to broaden the scope of home appliance trade-ins that qualify for subsidies.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,230.17 | 0.53 | 0.02 |
| Hang Seng | 19,279.84 | -167.74 | -0.87 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,080.35 | -2.93 | -0.04 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,614.83 | -14.96 | -0.92 |
| Nikkei 225 | 39,981.06 | -102.24 | -0.26 |
| Straits Times | 3,886.98 | 58.81 | 1.51 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,521.05 | 28.95 | 1.15 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 23,407.33 | -243.94 | -1.04 |
