Asian markets ended higher on Wednesday as in-line US inflation data bolstered speculation the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants the Federal Reserve to keep the door open to a larger, 50 basis-point rate cut next month following recent weak job growth revisions. Chinese shares gained as regulatory scrutiny of Nvidia’s H20 chips spurred some optimism around the potential use of local alternatives. But the upside is capped by heightened trade tensions as China said it will implement more levies on Canadian rapeseed after an anti-dumping probe. Japanese shares rose sharply to hit a fresh record high, tracking Wall Street’s overnight gains and extending the rally to a sixth straight session.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,683.46 | 17.54 | 0.48 |
| Hang Seng | 25,613.67 | 643.99 | 2.58 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,892.91 | 101.21 | 1.28 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,586.60 | 18.70 | 1.19 |
| Nikkei 225 | 43,275.00 | 556.83 | 1.29 |
| Straits Times | 4,272.76 | 52.04 | 1.22 |
| KOSPI Composite | 3,224.37 | 34.46 | 1.07 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 24,370.02 | 211.66 | 0.87 |
