- Troubled Boeing faces investors and awaits strike vote
- Indian capital chokes as 'hazardous' air pollution returns
- Thousands flee homes as fierce tropical storm batters Philippines
- Tokyo Metro shares rocket on debut
- Israel says killed Nasrallah's apparent successor in Beirut strike
- Climate change worsened deadly Africa floods, scientists say
- Los Angeles Dodgers baseball icon Fernando Valenzuela dead at 63
- Indian capital's 'hazardous' air pollution season starts
- King Charles visits Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Cattle disease wreaks havoc in Libya
- Fernando Valenzuela: Iconic pitcher sparked 'Fernandomania'
- Warner offers to come out of retirement for India Test series
- Deyverson double gives Atletico Mineiro upper hand over River Plate
- Taipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait
- LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history with father-son appearance
- Deyverson double gives Atletico upper hand over River Plate
- Tokyo Metro: Asia's oldest subway goes public
- Shiffrin eyes 100 World Cup wins as legend Hirscher returns
- Asian markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed; US vote in focus
- From Colombia's jungle to the world's fish tanks
- Celtics dominate Knicks to launch NBA title defense
- North Korean leader Kim inspects missile bases, ballistic weapons
- Harris says US ready for woman president
- King Charles winds up Australia trip, flies to Samoa summit
- Porn stars urge men to vote against Trump
- Judge orders Giuliani to hand over valuables in bankruptcy
- Mourinho reunion a reminder of how little has changed for mediocre Man Utd
- Taiwan says Chinese warships sailing towards sensitive strait
- Chile ex-international footballer Valdivia held over rape complaint
- McDonald's linked to one death, dozens of food poisonings in US
- Miners, farmers protest COP16 host Colombia's nature protection plans
- Safieddine, the apparent Hezbollah heir who was killed by Israel
- Roman Polanski 1970s sexual assault lawsuit dismissed: lawyer
- ABBA's Bjorn among 11,000 artists issuing AI warning
- Vinicius hat-trick saves Real Madrid in Champions League, Villa go top
- Mexico arrests suspected killer of prominent priest
- Toure snatches last-gasp win for Stuttgart at Juventus
- McDonald's linked to dozens of food poisonings, one death in US
- US regulator finalizes air taxi rules
- PSG pay for missed chances again in PSV Champions League draw
- Aston Villa beat Bologna to go top of the Champions League
- Vinicius treble fires Champions League holders Madrid to Dortmund comeback
- Arsenal grind out win over Shakhtar in Champions League
- Uganda fuel truck explosion kills 11
- Austria's Grand Slam winner Thiem ends career cheered on by home crowd
- Union sees 'tight' vote on contract to end Boeing strike
- Reijnders fires AC Milan to first Champions League points with Club Brugge double
- Record-breaking Liverpool vow to improve against Leipzig
- Uganda fuel truck explosion kills at least 10
- Forest owner Marinakis banned for spitting towards officials
Asian markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed; US vote in focus
Asian equities diverged Wednesday after another unremarkable day on Wall Street, where rising bond yields and comments from Federal Reserve officials dampened expectations for US interest rate cuts.
A global rally that has seen several markets hit multiple records -- particularly in New York -- appears to have run out of gas as traders assess the US central bank's plans in the wake of forecast-topping economic data and ahead of a tight presidential election.
They are also keeping tabs on Beijing, hoping for more measures to reignite growth after a slew of stimulus over the past month, while geopolitical tensions helped push safe-haven gold to another peak.
Bets on another bumper 50-basis-point rate cut at the Fed's next meeting have dwindled following a recent spate of data showing the world's top economy in rude health and the labour markets resilient.
A number of key members of the bank's policy board have said that while they are in favour of further reductions, they did not want to go too quickly.
That comes as markets eye a possible Donald Trump victory in next month's presidential polls, which observers warn could see him implement tax cuts and impose tariffs that could restoke inflation.
Treasury yields are at their highest since July.
"Investors are navigating a tangled web of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a Federal Reserve turning out less dovish than expected, and the sudden reawakening of the 'Trump Trade'," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
"The latter has shaken the bond market, forcing some bond traders to pull their heads out of the sand as real jitters emerge about the fiscal landscape post-election."
The Dow and S&P 500 both fell for a second straight day on Wall Street, having ended at fresh peaks Friday, though the Nasdaq ticked higher.
Asian markets fluctuated.
Tokyo ticked down despite a weaker yen caused by a softening of expectations on US rate cuts. The Japanese unit is sitting at levels not seen since July.
However, shares in Tokyo Metro rocketed 45 percent on their debut after its government owners raised $2.3 billion in Japan's biggest initial public offering for six years.
Wellington, Manila and Taipei also fell.
Hong Kong climbed more than one percent, building on the healthy run-up enjoyed in the wake of China's raft of economic support measures.
Shanghai also advanced, along with Sydney, Seoul, Singapore and Jakarta.
Gold touched a new record of $2,749.03 owing to the uncertainty over the US vote as well as ongoing fears about the Middle East crisis as Israel plots its retaliation against Iran after this month's missile barrage by Tehran.
The geopolitical concerns offset the rowing back of US rate-cut bets that had helped propel bullion higher in recent months.
Oil ticked down after surging more than two percent Tuesday in reaction to Chinese authorities lifting import quotas on independent oil refineries from next year in a sign growth may be recovering.
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 38,300.81 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.4 percent at 20,791.98
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3,301.44
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0797 from $1.0800 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2982 from $1.2977
Dollar/yen: UP at 151.74 yen from 151.02 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 83.17 pence from 83.14 pence
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $71.52 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $75.79 per barrel
New York - Dow: FLAT at 42,924.89 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,306.54 (close)
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN