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6 years ago

Asian shares fall as eyes turn to c bank meetings

File Photo (Collected)
File Photo (Collected)

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Asian share markets were mostly lower on Wednesday after a muted market response to the Trump-Kim summit. Investors have now turned their eyes to the trio of this week's central bank meetings.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.3 per cent in early trading at 22,934.58. South Korea's Kospi was down by less than 0.1 per cent at 2,468.83. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.6 per cent to 30,913.91.

The Shanghai Composite index also lost 0.6 per cent to 3,062.12. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also dropped 0.5 per cent to 6,024.10, reports AP.

The S&P 500 index rose 4.85 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 2,786.85, closing at its highest level since February 1. The Nasdaq composite added 43.87 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 7,703.79.

However, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.58 points, or less than 0.1 per cent, to 25,320.73.

The Federal Reserve resumes a two-day meeting on interest rates later Wednesday.

On Thursday, the European Central Bank will meet and could outline an end to its stimulus programme, while on Friday the Bank of Japan is due to give its latest policy update.

Benchmark US crude lost 41 cents to $65.95 a barrel. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 23 cents to $75.65 per barrel in London.

The dollar rose to 110.54 yen from 110.30 late Tuesday in Asia. The euro fell slightly to $1.17 from $17.99.

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