Asian shares muted ahead of Fed comments

Asian stocks were largely muted on Wednesday after the release of lacklustre consumer confidence data, with comments from US Federal Reserve officials and fresh economic figures due later in the day.

Global equities mostly rose Tuesday, despite data showing pessimism among consumers in the United States and Germany.

The Conference Board reported a larger-than-expected drop in US shoppers' confidence in February, as survey participants expressed more concern about the labour market and the American political environment.

In Germany, consumers also remained downbeat about the economy and their propensity to make large purchases was largely unchanged from a month ago, according to pollster GfK.

US stocks ended Tuesday with little change, "as investors remain grounded ahead of critical economic data, including the Federal Reserve preferred inflation gauge, which is expected to shed some light on the timing of the first Fed cut", Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management, said in a note.

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Traders will be examining the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index due Thursday, as well as US consumer income and initial jobless claims data released the same day.

Later Wednesday, investors will be looking out for comments from three Fed officials, which could offer fresh insights into the US central bank's rate cut outlook.

Expectations on a timeline for cuts to US borrowing costs have gradually shifted to later this year, as inflation data has come in hot and policymakers have indicated they need to see more signs that inflation is moving towards their 2.0 percent goal.

"The rates market has shifted from an anticipated six rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in 2024 to just three, indicating that investors might find themselves on the wrong end of the stick if a top-side beat is big enough to threaten the 3 cut narrative," Innes said.

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Adding to the recent chorus of officials, Fed governor Michelle Bowman said she expected inflation to continue declining with rates held at their current level, adding it was too early to begin reducing rates.

In Asia, Tokyo stocks opened flat on Wednesday, with the market "expected to start in a narrow range as US shares were mixed", according to senior market analyst Toshiyuki Kanayama of Monex.

Better-than-expected Japanese consumer inflation data released a day earlier stoked speculation among analysts that the Bank of Japan might raise interest rates in April or potentially even next month.

Unlike other major central banks, the BoJ has stuck to an ultra-loose monetary policy, putting pressure on the yen.

Shanghai rose at the open, while Seoul, Wellington, Mumbai, Jakarta and Manila were also trading higher.

Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur were down.

G20 finance ministers and central bank heads will meet in Brazil on Wednesday and Thursday, seeking ways to shore up a global economy whose nascent recovery is threatened by a raft of conflicts and crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

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Investors will turn their focus to Chinese manufacturing numbers on Friday.

Key figures around 0230 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 39,149.48

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.3 percent at 16,739.17

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,020.31

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0840 from $1.0850 on Tuesday

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 150.39 yen from 150.49 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2673 from $1.2685

Euro/pound: UP at 85.54 pence from 85.49 pence

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $83.28 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $78.63 per barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 38,972.41 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 7,683.02 (close)

-- Bloomberg News contributed to this story --

Source: AFP