Asian stocks creep lower ahead of Fed rate decision

© Reuters.

Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks fell on Wednesday with markets remaining broadly risk-off before a closely-watched interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve later in the day, while weak economic readings from Japan also weighed.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% as data showed the country’s exports and imports shrank less than expected in August. But Japan’s trade deficit widened substantially more than expected, hitting a three-month low on weakness in China, which is one of the country’s biggest export destinations.

Focus this week is also on a Bank of Japan meeting on Friday, amid some speculation that a pivot away from negative interest rates is imminent. 

China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes fell 0.3% each, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.3% as the People’s Bank of China kept its loan prime rates unchanged, as widely expected.

The central bank has limited room to cut interest rates further and boost an economic recovery, given that rates are already at record lows. But the PBOC has also largely maintained its pace of liquidity injections to boost a slowing economic recovery. 

Weakness in China spilled over into Australia, with the ASX 200 down 0.6%. The Westpac/Melbourne Institute Leading Index- an indicator of future Australian economic growth- read 0% for August, heralding continued weakness in the Australian economy as it grapples with high interest rates and slowing Chinese demand. 

Futures for India’s Nifty 50 index pointed to a weak open, as investors continued to lock-in some profits after local stocks touched record highs this week. 

Fed angst keeps markets risk-off 

Broader markets remained largely subdued, as investors hunkered down before the conclusion of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting later in the day. 

The Fed is expected to keep rates on hold. But a recent resurgence in U.S. inflation is expected to elicit a hawkish outlook from the central bank, which could open up the possibility of at least one more rate hike in 2023.

The Fed is also expected to reiterate its stance that interest rates will remain higher for longer- a scenario that presents more headwinds for Asian markets. Rising U.S. rates  tightened monetary conditions across the globe and dried up foreign capital flows into regional markets over the past year. 

Asian chipmakers extend losses on demand fears 

Regional chipmaking stocks saw sustained losses this week, after a Reuters report showed that TSMC (TW:2330) (NYSE:TSM)- the world’s largest contract chipmaker- had asked its suppliers to delay some deliveries on concerns over slowing demand.

TSMC’s Taiwan shares fell 0.3% on Wednesday, extending losses into a third straight session.

Memory chip makers SK Hynix Inc (KS:000660) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KS:005930) sank 1.2% and 0.3%, respectively, also dragging the KOSPI 0.2% lower.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (HK:0981), China’s biggest chipmaker, fell 1%, while peer Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd (HK:1347) fell 0.6% in Hong Kong trade.