U.S. futures subdued as government shutdown stretches into second week
Updates at 04:40 GMT with latest price moves, India open, and additional context
Investing.com-- Asian shares were mixed on Wednesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision later in the day, while Japanese stocks hovered near record highs after trade data showed the country’s deficit shrank less than expected.
Regional markets also tracked the subdued close on Wall Street overnight. Benchmark indices closed marginally lower on Tuesday, while futures tied to them traded largely unchanged in early Asia hours on Wednesday.
Fed decision looms large; policy outlook in focus
The Fed is widely expected to deliver a 25-basis-point cut on Wednesday, its first this year, bringing the federal funds rate to 4.00%-4.25%.
Markets have largely priced in the move, but attention is centred on the central bank’s updated economic projections and Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks for clues on the pace and extent of further easing.
Fed funds futures imply as much as 65-70 basis points of cuts by year-end, though policymakers could strike a more cautious tone if inflation remains sticky.
“The focus will be on the new set of projections and also the individual votes, with Stephen Miran participating for the first time,” ING analysts said in a note.
Lower U.S. rates tend to support capital flows into Asia and ease pressure on regional currencies.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 1.5% on Wednesday, remaining buoyed by tech sector gains.
Investors welcomed Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address on Wednesday, focusing on economic revitalization and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
He reaffirmed the city’s 2025 growth forecast of 2% to 3% and emphasized the government’s commitment to improving housing, increasing workers’ wages, enhancing elderly care, and providing better prospects for youth.
China’s blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 0.6%, while the Shanghai Composite index gained 0.4%, remaining near decade high levels.
South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.7% on Wednesday, retreating after six straight sessions of record highs.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged 0.2% lower.
India’s Nifty 50 traded 0.3% higher at market open.
Japan trade data shows resilience; Nikkei near record highs
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was largely unchanged, holding just below record highs of 45,055.0 points reached on Tuesday.
The broader TOPIX index fell 0.6%.
Trade data for August showed resilience despite tariff headwinds. Exports slipped 0.1% from a year earlier, less than forecasts for a 1.2% drop, while imports fell 5.2%.
That left a trade deficit of 242.5 billion yen ($1.64 billion), narrower than the 325 billion yen shortfall expected by economists.
Exports improved after the U.S. and Japan finalized a trade deal in August, capping U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods at 15%. Still, domestic demand in Japan remained weak, weighed down by high import costs and persistent inflation.