Investing.com - Asian share markets experienced a dip on Friday as the US dollar strengthened following a higher-than-expected increase in US consumer prices. This development supports the case for the Federal Reserve to maintain higher rates for an extended period.
The iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (NYSE:EPP) saw a 1.7% drop on Friday, marking its largest one-day percentage fall in a week, after reaching a three-week peak on Thursday.
Chinese stocks witnessed substantial declines after data revealed that China's consumer prices remained flat in September, while factory-gate prices contracted slower, suggesting ongoing deflationary pressures. As a result, China's blue-chip CSI300 stock index fell 1.1%, while the Hang Seng Index was down 2.3% in early trading.
Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index also experienced losses, down by 0.6% apiece.
The rise in US consumer prices was driven by an unexpected surge in rental costs, leading traders to anticipate a higher likelihood of an additional Fed rate hike this year.
The inflation data, coupled with weak demand for a US 30-year bond auction, resulted in an increase in Treasury yields on Thursday. However, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell 3.7 basis points to 4.674% in Asian trading hours on Friday.
Investors are now awaiting remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, scheduled to speak on October 19, just before the blackout period for the US central bank's next interest-rate decision.
In the currency markets, the US Dollar Index eased slightly down 0.2%.
Gold prices steadily increased on Friday, but remained below the two-week high achieved in the previous session. Meanwhile, oil prices rose after the US tightened its sanctions program against Russian crude exports, intensifying supply concerns in an already tight market.