Asian Markets Mixed Amid Cautious Trades

Asian markets are mixed on Wednesday, following the positive cues from Wall Street overnight, amid easing crude oil prices and a spike in semiconductor stocks on renewed optimism about the AI trade after AI giant Anthropic publicly filed for an IPO on Monday. The uncertainty in the Middle East weighed on market sentiment as efforts by regional intermediaries to defuse Middle East tensions continue. Asian markets closed mixed on Tuesday.

Traders seemingly remained reluctant to make significant moves ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later in the day, followed by rate decisions from the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan later this week. All three central banks are expected to keep the key rate unchanged.