The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, February 16, 2024. Kosuke Okahara/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Most stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region fell on Wednesday as New Zealand's central bank kept interest rates steady, while investors awaited key US and Chinese inflation data later this week.
China's manufacturing PMI and US PCE price index – the Fed's preferred measure of inflation – are scheduled for release on Thursday.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand held the official interest rate at 5.50%, keeping it at a 15-year high, while warning that inflation remains well above the target range.
Also on the radar was Hong Kong's budget announcement, which will be watched for any new updates that could boost property markets and attract more foreign investment.
Australia Standard & Poor's/ASX 200 The New Zealand index fell by 0.1%. S&P/NZX 50 Index It rose 0.3% after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's decision.
Japan Nikki 225 The broader Topix index fell 0.2 percent. The Nikkei 225 had reached a record high earlier in the week.
South Korea Cosby The smaller Kosdaq rose 0.4%, while the smaller Kosdaq added 1.4%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.2%, while the CSI 300 also fell 0.2%.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended Tuesday with small gains as investors awaited key inflation data to be released later this week.
the Standard & Poor's 500It rose by 0.17%, while it rose NasdaqHe added 0.37%. the Dow Jones Industrial AverageIt decreased by 96.82 points, or 0.25%.
— CNBC's Hakyung Kim and Alex Haring contributed to this report
