Asian markets settled mixed on Wednesday tracking Wall Streets’ overnight fall after several Federal Reserve officials, including Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated caution over further policy easing. Powell said the Federal Reserve is facing a challenging situation and that there is no risk-free path to achieve the central bank's dual mandate of maintaining full employment and price stability in the US economy. Meanwhile, Japanese shares rose slightly as traders returned to their desks after a public holiday and shrugged off data that showed Japanese manufacturing activity shrank more than expected in September to hit a six-month low. Chinese shares jumped, led by gains in technology shares amid renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,853.64 | 31.81 | 0.83 |
| Hang Seng | 26,518.65 | 359.53 | 1.37 |
| Jakarta Composite | 8,126.56 | 1.36 | 0.02 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,599.66 | -3.89 | -0.24 |
| Nikkei 225 | 45,630.31 | 136.65 | 0.30 |
| Straits Times | 4,290.40 | -12.27 | -0.29 |
| KOSPI Composite | 3,472.14 | -14.05 | -0.40 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 26,196.73 | -50.64 | -0.19 |
