Asian markets traded mostly lower in early deals on Wednesday, in conjunction with the negative cues from Wall Street overnight stalling US post-election rally. Investors refrained from hefty position taking ahead to later today’s US consumer price inflation numbers. Higher crude oil rates and tensions over US taking hard line on trade and tariffs against China under the new Trump administration also pressured investments. Japan’s Nikkei fell due to concerns over peaking inflation after country’s producer prices climbed at the fastest pace in 14 months in the month of October. Meanwhile, investors continued to evaluate the impact of Japan's 10 trillion-yen stimulus plan for AI chipmakers which aims to strengthen critical supply chains amid ongoing US-China trade tensions.
Nikkei 225 tumbled by 422.65 points or 1.09% to 38,953.44, Taiwan dipped by 30.72 points or 0.13% to 22,951.05, Hang Seng decreased by 101.97 points or 0.51% to 19,744.91, KOSPI declined by 38.60 points or 1.55% to 2,443.97, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI lower by 1.91 points or 0.12% to 1,606.52
On flip side, Straight times rose 6.98 points or 0.19% to 3,718.46, Jakarta Composite jumped by 36.94 points or 0.50% to 7,358.93 and Shanghai added by 4.40 points or 0.13% to 3,426.37.