Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed on Tuesday as cautious traders anticipated interest rate decisions from major central banks, including the US Fed, this week. A monthly review of key lending rates in China will also take place in the coming days, following the PBoC's move to retain them at record lows in November. Japan ( NKY:IND ) rose +0.11% to around 39,680, while the broader Topix Index rose 0.5% to 2,750 on Tuesday, recovering losses from the previous session, the Japanese yen held its recent decline to around 154 per dollar on Tuesday, hovering near its weakest levels in three weeks. Domestically, Japan's economy minister, Ryosei Akazawa, reaffirmed that the Bank of Japan and the government will collaborate on appropriate monetary policies. Markets are speculating that the BOJ may forgo an interest rate hike when it announces its decision on Thursday. China ( SHCOMP ) fell -0.14% to 3,381, while the Shenzhen Component gained 0.2% to 10,595 on Tuesday, as mainland stocks struggled to find direction in the face of ongoing economic uncertainties and the absence of detailed policy measures from Beijing and the offshore yuan stabilized around 7.28 per dollar as traders await the People’s Bank of China’s loan prime rate decisions later this week for clues on future policy moves. Hong Kong ( HSI ) rose +0.10% to 19,749, marking the third straight session of losses as most sectors retreated, particularly property, consumers, and tech. India ( SENSEX ) fell -0.72% to 80,932 in morning trade on Tuesday while hitting its lowest level in two weeks, extending losses from the previous session, mainly weighed by banking sectors, financial services, and oil & gas. Monday's data also pressured sentiment after the Indian trade deficit widened to highest on record in November of USD 37.8 billion due to a surge in imports. Meanwhile, wholesale inflation eased to 1.89% in November from October's four-month high due to a softer rise in food prices. Australia ( AS51 ) rose +0.78% at 8,314 and snapping a five-day losing streak Domestically, a private survey revealed a decline in Australian consumer confidence in December, as sentiment turned more pessimistic regarding the economic outlook. Additionally, traders are awaiting the Australian government’s update on its budget outlook, which is expected to show larger deficits. In the U.S., on Monday, all three major indexes ended mixed , the Nasdaq 100 surged 1.4% to a new milestone, breaking above the 22,000 mark as tech stocks drove the market higher ahead of a pivotal Federal Reserve policy meeting later this week. U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday, following a mixed session on Wall Street as investors await the latest Federal Reserve policy decision: Dow -0.10% ; S&P 500 -0.10% ; Nasdaq -0.03% . Meanwhile, investors are bracing for the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement on Wednesday, followed by the domestic Q3 GDP data on Thursday. Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ). More on Asia: China's Nov retail sales slows as stimulus impact fades; unemployment rate held steady Japan's factory activity shrinks for sixth straight month, services activity improves in December Australia's jobless rate falls to 8-month low of 3.9% in November China's trade surplus largest in 5 months; exports slow while imports fall amid trade uncertainties Chinese fintech stocks surge after China signals looser monetary policy
