SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific dipped in Thursday morning trade, as investors watch for market reaction after the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday moved up its timeline for rate hikes.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 shed 0.33% in early trade while the Topix index sat below the flatline. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.62%.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia fell 0.14%. Australia’s jobs data for May is set to be released at 9:30 a.m. HK/SIN on Thursday.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.54% lower.
Fed brings forward timeline for rate hikes
The Fed on Wednesday brought forward the time frame on which it will next raise interest rates, with the so-called dot plot of individual member expectations pointing to two hikes in 2023.
“The new Fed ‘dot plot’ indicating that the median FOMC member now forecasts two Fed rate hikes in 2023, versus none in the March iteration, represented the hawkish surprise out of the June Fed meeting,” Ray Attrill, head of foreign exchange strategy at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 265.66 points overnight stateside to 34,033.67 while the S&P 500 slipped 0.54% to 4,223.70. The Nasdaq Composite shed 0.24% to 14,039.68.
Currencies and oil
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 91.428 as compared with levels below 90.5 seen earlier this week.
The Japanese yen traded at 110.75 per dollar following a sharp weakening recently from below 110 against the greenback. The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.761, lower than levels above $0.77 seen earlier in the week.
Oil prices were lower in the morning of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures declining 0.71% to $73.86 per barrel. U.S. crude futures slipped 0.75% to $71.61 per barrel.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
- Australia: Jobs data for May at 9:30 a.m. HK/SIN
Source: CNBC