- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years prison for French researcher
- 'Innocent' British nerve agent victim caught in global murder plot: inquiry
- Afghan Taliban vow to implement media ban on images of living things
- Russian prosecutor demands 3 years, 3 months jail for French researcher
- England ready for Pakistan's spin assault in second Test
- New Zealand's Ravindra excited for India Tests with father in crowd
- India's capital bans fireworks to curb air pollution
- Stocks diverge, oil retreats as China disappoints markets
- FIFA to open 'global dialogue' on transfer system after Diarra ruling
- Trio wins economics Nobel for work on wealth inequality
- Starmer vows to cut red tape as he urges foreign investors to 'back' UK
- Ex-Stasi officer jailed over 1974 Berlin border killing
- 'Not viable': Barcelona turns against surging tourism
- Hezbollah says targeted Israeli naval base after deadly drone strike
- Rice praises 'unbelievable' England interim boss Carsley despite uncertainty
- Nepali teenager hailed as hero after climbing world's 8,000m peaks
- England captain Stokes back from injury for second Pakistan Test
- Shanghai stocks gain after stimulus briefing as markets rally
- Shanghai stocks gain after stimulus briefing as Asian markets rally
- South Korea military says 'fully ready' as drone flights anger North
- Pakistan 'vigilantes' behind rise in online blasphemy cases
- Nearly 90, but opera legend Kabaivanska is still calling tune
- Smith experiment as Test opener over, Green out of India series
- With inflation down, ECB eyes faster tempo of rate cuts
- Is life possible on a Jupiter moon? NASA goes to investigate
- Dodgers crush Mets 9-0 in MLB playoff series opener
- South Korea military says 'fully ready' as drone tensions soar
- Cummins back, Marsh and Head out of Pakistan ODI series
- Shanghai stocks swing after stimulus briefing as most of Asia rises
- New Zealand's Latham promises 'no fear' as he takes charge for India Tests
- Kyrgios vows to 'shut up' doubters with December comeback
- Public hearings start into death of Brit by Russian nerve agent
- Ex-Stasi officer faces verdict over 1974 Berlin border killing
- Role of government, poverty research tipped for economics Nobel
- 'Stolen satire' feeds US election misinformation
- Rookie McCarty captures first PGA Tour title in Black Desert Championship
- Australia all-rounder Green ruled out of India Test series
- Seeing double in Nigeria's 'twins capital of the world'
- UK FM to attend EU foreign affairs talks for first time in 2 years
- Carter, Billups among 13 new Basketball Hall of Fame inductees
- Ravens rip Commanders as Lions lose NFL sacks leader in win
- Hezbollah drone strike kills four, wounds dozens at Israeli base
- China says launches military drills around Taiwan
- Stewart leads Liberty past Lynx to level WNBA Finals
- England return to winning ways in Nations League, Austria thrash Norway
- UN chief says attacks on UNIFIL 'may constitute a war crime'
- Ravens outlast Commanders while Bucs batter Saints in NFL
- Dozens hurt in Israel as Hezbollah claims drone strike
- England deserve 'world class' coach: Carsley
- Burkina Faso win to become first qualifiers for 2025 AFCON
Markets mixed as traders await US data, Fed speakers
Asian markets were mixed Tuesday following a tepid performance on Wall Street, with profit-taking tempering hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts next year and traders awaiting key US inflation data due later this week.
A string of indicators in recent months pointing to a slowing economy -- as well as a below-forecast rise in consumer prices -- have fuelled optimism that the US central bank has hiked borrowing costs for the last time this cycle.
That has led to speculation decision-makers have managed to walk the thin line between bringing inflation down and averting a recession.
However, analysts said there was a sliver of concern that the readings could point to weakness down the line.
In addition to the closely watched personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed's preferred guide on inflation, investors will be keeping watch this week on several other pointers, including consumer confidence and gross domestic product.
A number of central bank officials are also lined up to talk, including boss Jerome Powell, though they are expected to stick to their long-running line that their policy decisions will be based on data, and they see rates staying higher for longer to tame inflation completely.
"The market appears to have embraced the idea that slowing economic data will hasten the arrival of market-friendly rate cuts, even though the Fed has continued to telegraph otherwise," said Chris Larkin at E*Trade from Morgan Stanley.
"This week will provide plenty of opportunities for traders to decide whether that cooling trend is intact."
Data suggests traders see almost one percentage point of cuts through next year, with US Treasury yields continuing to come down from their 16-year highs last month.
In morning trade Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore were in the red, while Shanghai was flat.
Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta rose.
Expectations that rates will come down have put pressure on the dollar, which extended Monday's losses against the yen and pound.
Traders are also watching developments in oil markets as OPEC and its key allies gear up for a meeting that was delayed until November 30 after some African countries reportedly baulked at more production cuts proposed by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis and Russia are thought to be considering announcing a further reduction in output into the new year as they try to prop up prices, which have come down owing to slowing economies and softening demand.
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 33,370.40 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.2 percent at 17,485.79
Shanghai - Composite: FLAT at 3,031.86
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 148.26 from 148.64 yen on Monday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0954 from $1.0958
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2632 from $1.2627
Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.72 pence from 86.75 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $75.29 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.6 percent at $80.42 per barrel
New York - DOW: DOWN 0.2 percent at 35,333.47 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,460.70 (close)
F.Schneider--AMWN