Asian stock markets mostly lower on Wednesday, following the mixed cues from global markets overnight, as data showing a bigger than expected increase in U.S. retail sales in September raised concerns the US Fed will keep interest rates higher for longer or even announce a rate hike this year. Higher bond yields and geopolitical concerns in the Middle East also kept investors cautious. Asian markets closed mostly higher on Tuesday.
Adding to the gains in the previous session, Australian shares are slightly higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 staying above the 7,000 mark, following the mixed cues from global markets overnight, with small gains in energy, mining and financial stocks nearly offset by weakness in technology stocks.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.