Asian stock markets are trading mostly in the red on Wednesday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, as traders digest the closely watched key U.S. inflation data, which accelerated in January but came in line with estimates, probably dashing hopes that the US Fed might further ease the pace of its interest rate hikes. Asian markets closed mostly higher on Tuesday.
The Australian stock market is significantly lower on Wednesday, giving up the gains in the previous session, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 falling below the 7,400 levels, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, dragged by tumbling financial stocks as traders reacted higher-than-expected US inflation reading, which supports a case for further interest rate hikes.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.