Asia Shares Rise Moderately Ahead Of Fed Meet

Tokyo: Asian shares were trading mixed Wednesday as markets focused on prospects for the US Federal Reserve’s first cut to interest rates in more than four years.The Bank of Japan and the Bank of England are also holding monetary policy meetings later this week. But neither central bank is expected to move on rates, although the language of what the officials say could be an indicator of later moves and still influence markets. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 per cent in afternoon trading to 36,269.04. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 inched down nearly 0.1 per cent to 8,134.40. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.1 per cent to 8,134.40. Trading was closed in Hong Kong for a national holiday.