Investing.com - Share markets across the APAC region retreated on Wednesday, after Wall Street was rattled by higher-than-expected inflation figures.
by 12:25 pm AEDT (1:25 pm GMT) the S&P/ASX 200 was down 1.1%, the KOSPI 200 lost 1.5%, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.7% and the NZX 50 fell 1.1%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by 524 points or 1.4%, landing at 38272. Similarly, the S&P 500 fell by 1.4% to 4953, and the NASDAQ Composite slid by 1.8% to 15655. This downturn occurred despite major stock indexes previously reaching all-time highs in anticipation of a more lenient Fed policy early this year.
Chinese and Hong Kong markets remained closed for the Lunar New Year holidays. In contrast, Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed 2.9% higher at 37963.97, its highest level since January 1990, partly driven by robust earnings. The 10-year Japanese government bond yield remained steady at 0.720%.
London's blue-chip index ended Tuesday's session 0.81% lower at 7,512.28 points, marking its lowest point since January 25 due to the U.S. inflation data's impact on global markets. All 11 sectors of the S&P 500 fell, with real estate shares suffering a near 2% loss amid concerns that increased mortgage rates will hinder housing deals.