Hong Kong (AFP) - Investors shifted cautiously in Asian trade Wednesday as they nervously awaited what is expected to be the biggest Federal Reserve interest rate hike in more than two decades.
With inflation showing little sign of easing from its 40-year highs, the US central bank has set itself on a hawkish course of tightening this year, sending shivers through world markets.
The prospect of higher borrowing costs has been compounded by a range of crises including the war in Ukraine, elevated oil prices and China's Covid lockdowns that have strangled crucial global supply chains.
The Fed now has to walk a fine line between getting control of surging prices and making sure it does not knock the recovery in the world's top economy off course.
"The Fed remains very focused on bringing inflation down, however, any further hawkish pivots will likely be tempered to some extent by the desire to achieve a soft landing," said Blerina Uruci at T. Rowe Price.
The Fed is expected to announce a 50 percentage point lift Wednesday -- its biggest since 2000 -- but boss Jerome Powell's post-meeting news conference will be closely watched for an idea about future hikes.
Speculation was swirling that 75 points could be on the table at some point this year.
"Powell will fall back to 'we are not on pre-set rate hikes' or something along those lines -- 'we go in with an open mind each meeting and will talk it over and we'll see where we go from there'," said Tony Farren, managing director at Mischler Financial Group.
"The market would take that as hawkish.For his comments to seem dovish, he'd have to shut down the talk of 75 basis points.And while I don't think he'll endorse it, I don't think he'll shut it down."
After a broadly positive lead from Wall Street, Asian markets were mixed in holiday-thinned trade.
Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila slipped but Sydney, Seoul, Taipei and Wellington dropped.
Tokyo, Shanghai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok were closed.
Oil prices enjoyed gains after another drop on Tuesday fuelled by the expected hit to demand from China's coronavirus lockdowns, including in the country's biggest city Shanghai.
The measures have offset supply concerns caused by the Ukraine war and bans on imports of Russian fuel, even as the European Union discusses following US and British embargoes.
A huge release of crude from reserves by dozens of countries including the United States has also helped keep prices tempered.
Investors are waiting for a meeting Thursday of OPEC and other major producers including Russia, where they will discuss whether or not to lift output more than expected.
Key figures at around 0230 GMT
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,943.01
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0528 from $1.0519 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2494 from $1.2491
Euro/pound: UP at 84.28 pence from 84.17 pence
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 130.09 yen from 130.14 yen
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.0 percent at $103.43 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.9 percent at $105.93 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 33,128.79 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 7,561.33 (close)
