Japan +2.00%.
China +0.12%.
Hong Kong +1.71%.
Australia +0.87%. Australian data – Westpac Leading index for February still in the doldrums.
India +0.10%.
Overnight in the U.S., major US stock indices experienced significant gains today, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision tomorrow. The Dow Industrial Average up 316 points, or 0.90%, at 32560.60; S&P index up 51.38 points, or 1.30%, at 4002.92; NASDAQ index up 184.58 points, or 1.58%, at 11860.12.
New Zealand data – Q1 consumer confidence 77.7 (up from prior 75.6).
Oil fell in early Asian trade on Wednesday, paring two straight days of gains after an industry report showed U.S. crude inventories rose unexpectedly last week in a sign fuel demand may be weakening.
Brent futures, which have risen more than 3% this week, were down 48 cents, or 0.6%, at $74.84 a barrel at 0203 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 47 cents, or 0.7%, at $69.20.
Gold prices traded in a narrow range on Wednesday as some investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision and policy outlook.
Spot gold was flat at $1,939.59 per ounce, as of 0318 GMT, after dropping 2% on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures edged 0.1% higher at $1,943.50.
US futures mostly higher. Dow Jones +0.01%; S&P 500 +0.08%; Nasdaq flat.