Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Monday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street on Friday, as traders remain cautious ahead of the anticipated interest rate cut after recent US data signaled softer labor conditions and muted inflation. The escalating geopolitical concerns in the Middle East are also weighing on market sentiment. Asian markets closed mostly higher on Friday.
The Fed is widely expected to lower interest rates by at least a quarter point at its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Traders will pay close attention to the Fed's accompanying statement as well as Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting comments for clues about the likelihood of more rate cuts later in the year.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.