Global bonds tumbled and the greenback stayed firm after a hot US inflation print and hawkish central bank rhetoric raised the risk of an outsized half-point rate hike from the Federal Reserve next month.

Hong Kong and mainland stocks, meanwhile, opened lower on Wednesday.

The Hang Seng Index was down 202 points, or 0.83 percent, at 24,354.

On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened 0.22 percent lower at 3,655 whereas the Shenzhen Component Index fell 0.32 percent at 11,205.

In Japan, the Nikkei share gauge climbed for a third straight session as data and earnings reports restored some optimism to the battered AI sector. The benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 0.8 percent to 60,942 as of the midday break.

The Kospi in Seoul rose 0.4 percent during morning trade. (Reuters/Xinhua)


Edited by Edmond Fong