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-36328842

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Asian markets fall after Fed minutes suggest rate rise Asian markets fall after Fed minutes
(about 4 hours later)
Asian stock markets are trading in negative territory after the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve indicate the US could raise interest rates later this year. Asian stock markets fell after the latest minutes from the US Federal Reserve indicated it could raise interest rates as soon as June.
The US Federal Reserve said it would raise rates in June if conditions were right. The central bank said it could raise rates next month if conditions were right.
South Korea's Kospi is down 0.2%, as is Australia's S&P/ASX 200. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.5% to close at 1,946.78 while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ended 0.6% lower at 5,323.30.
In Greater China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.9% but the Shanghai Composite is up 0.3%. In Greater China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.6% while the Shanghai Composite was flat.
According to analysts, the market believes the probability of a rate hike in June has now increased to 32%. According to analysts, the market believes the probability of a US rate rise in June has now increased to 32%.
"The minutes cited the strength of the labour market, improving economic conditions, better inflation and declining global risks as reasons to begin to normalise sooner than the market expected," Alex Furber from CMC Markets said. "The minutes cited the strength of the labour market, improving economic conditions, better inflation and declining global risks as reasons to begin to normalise sooner than the market expected," said Alex Furber from CMC Markets.
"The prospect of higher rates and the market's reliance on monetary policy to prop up asset prices worried investors, which pared early gains on the news.""The prospect of higher rates and the market's reliance on monetary policy to prop up asset prices worried investors, which pared early gains on the news."
However, Japanese shares rose after the yen weakened about 1% against the US dollar following the minutes. Machinery orders
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.7% and the broader Topix gained 0.6% in early trading. In Japan, shares rose in early trading after data showed machinery orders rose in March.
Data showing that Japanese machinery orders rose in March also helped sentiment.
Core orders rose by 5.5% from the previous month, beating forecasts for growth of 0.5%.Core orders rose by 5.5% from the previous month, beating forecasts for growth of 0.5%.
Shares of Japan's Suzuki Motors are also bouncing back from yesterday's sell off. However, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended up closing flat at 16,646.66 while the broader Topix fell 0.14% to 1,336.56.
They rose by 5% in Tokyo after the car maker denied they manipulated fuel efficiency data. Shares of Japan's Suzuki Motors also bounced back from Wednesday's sell-off. They rose by as much as 5% in Tokyo after the carmaker denied it had manipulated fuel efficiency data.
Suzuki stock fell by as much as 15% on Wednesday on reports the firm may have done "improper" testing. Suzuki's shares fell by as much as 15% on Wednesday on reports the firm may have carried out "improper" testing.