![Asian markets fall on US rate concerns, oil rises after attack](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/15/38/f4/Asian-markets-fall-on-US-rate-conce-791715.jpg)
-
US defends law forcing sale of TikTok app
-
Messi out for defending champ Miami as Leagues Cup begins
-
Australia bans uranium mining at Indigenous site
-
Divers attempt to reach sunken Philippine oil tanker
-
Trump accuses Harris of anti-Semitism in overblown speech
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese foreign minister in Laos
-
Coughlin clings to lead at LPGA Canadian Women's Open
-
Trump offers tech sector policy flips ahead of election
-
Spacecraft to swing by Earth, Moon on path to Jupiter
-
What's the fallout of Mexican drug lords' capture?
-
Video game makers see actors as AI 'data,' says union on strike
-
Chinese qualifier Shang to face Thompson in ATP Atlanta semis
-
Concern grows as Venezuela blocks election observers
-
'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
-
'We did it!': France breathes sigh of relief after Olympics ceremony
-
Blinken, in Laos, set for talks with Chinese foreign minister
-
Regional concern grows as Venezuela blocks vote observers
-
Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
-
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
-
G20 pledges to work together to tax ultra-rich
-
The one of a kind Paris opening ceremony: five memorable moments
-
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
-
Warner Brothers Discovery sues NBA over Amazon rights deal
-
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
-
Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics
-
Stocks rise as US inflation data boosts rate cut hopes
-
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
-
NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes
-
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
-
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
-
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
-
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
-
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
-
Teams sail down Seine in rain-soaked Olympics opening ceremony
-
Norris hoping for more after topping Belgian practice times
-
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
-
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
-
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
-
Mott's England future uncertain as ECB chief fails to offer support
-
Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Florida
-
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese counterpart in Laos
-
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
-
G20 seeks common ground on taxing super-rich
-
European medicines watchdog rejects new Alzheimer's drug
-
Harris gets vital Obama backing in battle against Trump
-
Habib, Ebden eye Alcaraz and Djokovic shocks at Olympics tennis
-
Stocks rise as inflation data boosts rate cut hopes
-
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
-
Two Sinaloa Cartel leaders face US charges after stunning capture
![Asian markets fall on US rate concerns, oil rises after attack](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/15/38/f4/Asian-markets-fall-on-US-rate-conce-791715.jpg)
Asian markets fall on US rate concerns, oil rises after attack
Equities fell Wednesday on lingering worries about the outlook for US interest rates, while oil prices extended their gains after an attack on a ship in the Red Sea stoked fresh worries about supplies from the Middle East.
With crucial inflation data out of the United States due at the end of the week, investors are largely playing a waiting game, with many inclined to sell after a recent run-up.
However, a forecast-beating read on consumer confidence in the world's top economy dented hopes that the Federal Reserve will have room to cut borrowing costs this year, while the mood was also soured by a weak Treasury sale that saw yields push higher.
Meanwhile, US central bank official Neel Kashkari warned that decision-makers had not ruled out a possible hike if they continue to struggle to bring prices down to their two percent target.
Wall Street's three main indexes ended mixed on their first day after a long weekend, with sentiment clouded by the government bond sale and the Conference Board gauge of May consumer confidence.
"The reading is still weak, being much closer to the bottom than the top of its past 10 years range. Nevertheless, this data point is the second successive upside surprises in the releases," said Ray Attrill of National Australia Bank.
Minneapolis Fed chief Kashkari said Tuesday that while monetary policy remained tight -- rates are at two-decade highs -- "I don't think anybody has totally taken rate increases off the table".
"I think the odds of us raising rates are quite low, but I don't want to take anything off the table."
His comments come after several other Fed officials said they were cautious about cutting too soon and wanted to see more data proving inflation was coming back down to two percent.
"I can tell you this, it certainly won't be more than two cuts," he warned.
Investors are now pricing in one cut before the year's end -- compared with as many as six tipped in January.
Chris Low, of FHN Financial, said policymakers were "looking for multiple good inflation reports, and by good, people like governor Christopher Waller imply they should be mostly better even than April, let alone any of the months of the first quarter."
He expected the reduction to come in November or December.
All eyes are now on the release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index -- the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation. That comes after figures showed consumer prices eased in April after three straight forecast-topping readings.
The next policy decision is due next month.
Asian investors shifted nervously Wednesday and markets fell across the region, with Hong Kong leading the losses owing to heavy selling in Chinese tech firms.
Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Wellington and Jakarta were all in the red.
London, Paris and Frankfurt also retreated.
Shanghai edged up as the International Monetary Fund lifted its forecast for Chinese economic growth to five percent in light of recent policy announcements. That is up from its previous estimate of 4.6 percent.
Oil prices rose again on geopolitical concerns after a bulk carrier was attacked in the Red Sea, a key waterway for shipping and particularly crude.
The strike comes amid heightened concerns about tensions in the region and as Israeli forces continue a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Also on traders' minds is the upcoming meeting of OPEC and other key oil producers that is expected to see them rollover output cuts.
Still, Warren Patterson, of ING Groep, said: "Geopolitical tensions continue to overshadow the market, but until we see supply losses, I think upside is limited.
"We need to see confirmation of a full rollover of cuts for the market to move significantly higher."
- Key figures around 0810 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 38,556.87 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.8 percent at 18,477.01 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,111.02 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,232.62
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 157.13 from 157.14 yen on Tuesday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0852 from $1.0862
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2762 from $1.2763
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.02 from 85.09 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.5 percent at $80.20 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.4 percent at $84.52 per barrel
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 38,852.86 (close)
G.Schulte--BTB