Following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight, Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Thursday, amid fading hopes of an interest rate cut anytime soon by the US Fed after latest data showed a bigger than expected increase in U.S. consumer price inflation in March. The inflation data also caused a surge in treasury yields. Asian Markets closed mixed on Wednesday.
Fed officials have repeatedly said they need greater confidence inflation is slowing before they consider cutting rates. Following the release of the data, the chances of a rate cut in June have plunged to just 16.5 percent, according to CME Group's FedWatch Tool.
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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.