Hong Kong, July 30 (V7N)— Asian financial markets saw a decline on Tuesday as investors braced for pivotal central bank decisions, key economic indicators, and earnings reports from major technology companies this week.

Despite last week’s US inflation data boosting expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut later this year, traders adopted a cautious stance following Monday’s market rally.

The Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday is anticipated to maintain current interest rates, but investors will closely analyze the Fed’s post-meeting statement for hints of a potential rate cut in September. Fed Chair Jerome Powell had previously hinted at the possibility of easing even without reaching the 2% inflation target, which, combined with recent signs of controlled prices and a softening labor market, has bolstered hopes for rate reductions—some predicting up to three cuts by January.

In addition, US job creation and openings data set for release this week could influence the Fed’s future decisions.

The Federal Reserve’s meeting will follow the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) highly anticipated policy decision. Speculation is rife about whether the BoJ will raise rates again after its first increase in 17 years earlier this year. BoJ Governor Kazu Ueda has remained tight-lipped, though a reduction in the bank’s bond purchases is expected as a step towards normalizing monetary policy.

However, Katsutoshi Inadome, a senior strategist at SuMi TRUST, doubts a rate hike this month. He argues that such a move, along with a detailed plan to cut Japanese Government Bond (JGB) purchases, could excessively disrupt the market and strengthen the yen, potentially harming domestic equities. Inadome anticipates a gradual reduction in bond purchases and suggests that a clearer outlook on interest rates may emerge by October.

Recent speculation about the Fed and BoJ policies has supported the yen against the dollar, which had approached a nearly 40-year low against the greenback earlier this month.

In response to market uncertainties, Asian stock indices fell on Tuesday after a strong performance the previous day. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta, and Manila all experienced declines, while Wellington saw a slight gain.

Market volatility increased last week following disappointing earnings reports from major tech companies like Tesla and Alphabet, raising questions about the sustainability of the tech-driven market highs. Investors are now preparing for upcoming earnings reports from other tech giants, including Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon.

Oil prices continued their decline on Monday, driven by concerns over demand amid weakness in the Chinese economy, overshadowing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stern warning following an attack on the Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children, further heightened regional tensions.

Key Market Figures at 0230 GMT:

  • Tokyo: Nikkei 225 down 1.0% to 38,101.24
  • Hong Kong: Hang Seng Index down 1.3% to 17,020.75
  • Shanghai: Composite down 0.8% to 2,868.23
  • Dollar/Yen: Up slightly to 154.05 yen
  • Euro/Dollar: Down to $1.0817
  • Pound/Dollar: Down to $1.2848
  • Euro/Pound: Up to 84.20 pence
  • WTI Crude: Down 0.5% to $75.44 per barrel
  • Brent Crude: Down 0.4% to $79.46 per barrel
  • New York Dow: Down 0.1% to 40,539.93
  • London FTSE 100: Up 0.1% to 8,292.35

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