This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34654711

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Asian shares mixed on Wednesday ahead of Fed meeting Asian shares lower ahead of Fed meeting
(about 5 hours later)
Shares in Asia were mixed as investors continued to look towards the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting later on Wednesday. Shares in Asia were largely in negative territory with investors cautious ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting.
The central bank is not expected to raise rates, but investors will be watching out for any clues on timing. The central bank is not expected to raise rates, but investors will be watching out for any clues on the timing of a rate increase.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 0.42% at 18,867.67 points ahead of several company earnings due out later. In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.21% at 5,335.20 points.
There is also speculation that Japan's central bank may expand its stimulus measures when it meets on Friday. Shares in one of the country's biggest lenders, National Australia Bank, closed down 2.16%.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was flat, down just 0.03% at 5,343.90 in early trade. Investors were disappointed after the bank's cash earnings for the period missed expectations. NAB posted a 15.5% rise in full-year cash profit to 5.84bn Australian dollars ($4.15bn; £2.71bn) against forecasts of about A$6bn.
Shares in one of the country's biggest lenders, National Australia Bank (NAB), were down as much as 1.3% after the bank's cash earnings for the period missed expectations.
The lender's cash earnings, which strip out some one-off accounting items, and is the bank's preferred measure, rose 15.5% to $5.84bn.
Australia's headline consumer price index also came in less than expected for the three months to September, rising 0.5% quarter on quarter. Analysts said the number may see Australia's central bank cut its lending rates again.Australia's headline consumer price index also came in less than expected for the three months to September, rising 0.5% quarter on quarter. Analysts said the number may see Australia's central bank cut its lending rates again.
"The fact that inflation is lower than expected and below target, despite a 20% plus fall in the value of the [Australian dollar] over the last year adds to the case for the RBA [Reserve Bank of Australia] to cut the cash rate again in order to offset the potential negative impact on the economy of big bank mortgage rate hikes," said AMP Capital's chief economist Shane Oliver."The fact that inflation is lower than expected and below target, despite a 20% plus fall in the value of the [Australian dollar] over the last year adds to the case for the RBA [Reserve Bank of Australia] to cut the cash rate again in order to offset the potential negative impact on the economy of big bank mortgage rate hikes," said AMP Capital's chief economist Shane Oliver.
In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.41% at 3,421.4, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.28% at 23,075.76. In China, the Shanghai Composite was down 0.84% at 3,405.90 in afternoon trade, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.53% at 23,016.86.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index was down 0.32% at 2,038.57. In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed down 0.10% at 2,042.51.
The one bright spot in the region was Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225, which closed up 0.67% at 18,903.02 ahead of several company earnings due out later.
Speculation that Japan's central bank may expand its stimulus measures when it meets on Friday may have fuelled investor sentiment, analysts said.