Mixed Performance in Asia-Pacific Markets

Asia-Pacific markets showed a mixed performance on Tuesday as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's dovish remarks on potential interest rate cuts, which had propelled Wall Street higher in the previous session.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index edged up following a holiday break, with traders closely monitoring yen movements. Chinese markets awaited updates from the Third Plenum, anticipating new economic stimulus measures. Hong Kong's market declined, while India's equity market reached record highs for the third consecutive day.

Australian shares hovered near all-time peaks, buoyed by the prospect of U.S. interest rate cuts. Investors in the region are now looking ahead to upcoming economic data and further comments from Fed officials for additional insights into monetary policy direction.

Powell indicated that the central bank is seeking "greater confidence" that inflation will reach the 2% target before implementing rate cuts, citing "long and variable lags" in policy effects. This stance has created a nuanced market response across the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting varying economic conditions and policy expectations in different countries.