Asian stocks fall despite Fed and BoJ’s status quo

In Japan, Yen traded nearly three and a half year’s high against the Euro which pulled the benchmark Nikkei index by 1.11% to 15,745 points.

Despite the US Federal Reserve cautious policy stance on benchmark rates, the Wall Street fell for the fifth session on the trot that took a massive toll on Asian equities too. Led by the sluggish Japanese stocks, Asian markets discounted the Fed’s policy. Besides, a stronger Yen dragged the Japanese stocks and now markets are keenly waiting for the Bank of Japan’s policy meet this week.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan also kept the benchmark interest rates unchanged, which failed to lift the investors' sentiment.

In Japan, Yen traded nearly three and a half year’s high against the Euro which pulled the benchmark Nikkei index by 1.11% to 15,745 points.

Australia’s benchmark ASX 200 closed 0.18% higher at 5,156 points.

Meanwhile, the WTI crude was quoted 0.92% down at US$ 47.57/bbl, while the Brent crude in London was quoted at US$ 48.67/bbl, down 0.30%.

Among other major Asian stock markets, China’s Shanghai Composite was quoted at 2,874 points (-0.45%), Singapore’s Straits Times at 2,755 points (-0.71%), Hong Kong’s Hang Seng at 20,042 points (-2.12%), South Korea’s Kospi index at 1,954 points (-0.76%), Taiwan’s Taiex at 8,490 points (-1.37%), and Singapore Nifty at 8,173 points (-0.48%).