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Asian stocks mixed ahead of Fed statement

06:04, 1969-Dec-31 .. 0 comments .. Link

Asian stocks mixed ahead of Fed statement Asian stocks mixed ahead of Fed statement HONG KONG -- Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday Tile Bladeas investors #xheld back ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest assessment of the world's largest economy.

It marked the region's third consecutive day of mediocre trade. Oil prices wallowed below $80 a barrel, while the dollar weakened against the yen and the euro.

The U.S. central bank wraps up its policy meeting later Tuesday. Widely expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged at near zero, the Fed will also deliver a policy statement that investors will pore over for clues about the economic recovery and its plans for interest rates.

In Asia, the Bank of Japan was also in focus.

The central bank is expected to maintain its benchmark interest rateTile Blade at 0.1 percent Wednesday, though there's growing speculation it will ease policy in other ways, possibly by expanding loan programs and other steps to keep money cheap and available as the world's second-largest economy heals.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock average fell 30.27 points, or 0.3 percent, to 10,721.71.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 53.24, or 0.3 percent, to 21,025.86. South Korea's Kospi was off 1.49, or 0.1 percent, to 1,katana,648.01.

Elsewhere, Shanghai's market rose 0.4 percent, Australia's was up 0.3 percent and India's Sensex gained 0.1 percent.

In currencies, the dollar slippedTile Blade to 90.22 yen from 90.46 yen. The euro #x was higher at $1.3681 from $1.3673. 相关的主题文章：