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Japan (NKY:IND) -0.24%. Bank of Japan officials still divided on rate hike timing – report
Meanwhile, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda offered a slightly bleaker assessment of the economy and said there are various ways to push up short-term borrowing costs if the central bank decides to end negative interest rates. Ueda told parliament that: “Japan’s economy is recovering moderately, although weakness has been seen in some data.”
China (SHCOMP) +0.01%.
Hong Kong (HSI) +0.62%.
India (SENSEX) -0.49%. Indian inflation data showed little change at 5.09% last month, compared to forecasts of 5.02%, with food inflation slightly higher than January. Traders now anticipate wholesale price data in India due Thursday and trade balance on Friday.
Australia (AS51) +0.22%.
In the U.S. on Tuesday, all three major indexes ended solidly higher as traders reacted to hotter-than-anticipated US inflation data which could dampen early interest rate cut expectations from the Federal Reserve.
U.S. stock futures held steady on Wednesday after a strong session on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 closing at record highs: Dow flat; S&P 500 +0.02%; Nasdaq -0.01%.
Investors now look ahead to US retail sales numbers and producer inflation data later in the week.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
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Read More: Asian equity markets mixed after Ueda remarks, traders digest U.S. inflation