Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday as traders in several countries returned from the Lunar New Year break to a soft lead out of Wall Street with recession fears still causing concern.

While equities have enjoyed a strong start to the year as a slowdown in inflation gives central banks room to temper their interest rate hikes, focus is now turning to the impact of last year's increases on the economy.

Worries about the growth outlook, and the impact of higher rates on company profits, are also offsetting optimism over China's reopening from years of zero-Covid measures.

Data showing a slight improvement in US factory and services activity was unable to settle nerves, with figures still showing the sectors in contraction.

Focus is now turning to next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting, with speculation growing that it will lift rates by 25 basis points.

Traders will also be poring over the bank's statement for an idea about future moves.

A mixed bag of US earnings reports failed to ease concerns, and there is talk that the gains across markets since the turn of the year may have run too far for now.

"As we leg further into earnings season with news from a broader swath of the economy, investors will focus intently on the nuts and bolts of the economy and pay more attention to what Corporate America is saying before making their next directional move," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.

In Asian trade, Tokyo ended slightly higher after rallying more than three percent over the previous three trading days.

Seoul and Singapore each jumped more than one percent as investors returned from the break to play catch-up with a regional advance, while Manila, Bangkok and Wellington were also up. Sydney, Mumbai and Jakarta fell.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Oil prices edged up after suffering a hefty drop Tuesday as traders weigh the prospects of recession against the outlook for demand from China as it emerges from its zero-Covid policy.

Still, both main contracts remain at levels not seen since November.

- Key figures around 0605 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 27,395.01 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: Closed for a holiday

Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0893 from $1.0889 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2319 from $1.2337

Euro/pound: UP at 88.43 pence from 88.23 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 130.52 yen from 130.17 yen

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $80.29 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.3 percent at $86.50 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 33,733.96 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,757.36 (close)

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Asian markets track Wall St rally
Hong Kong (AFP) Jan 24, 2023
Tokyo led gains across Asian markets again Tuesday in another day thinned by the Lunar New Year break, with sentiment boosted once more by a surge on Wall Street. Tech firms provided the support in New York as traders gear up for the release of earnings from big-ticket firms including Microsoft and Intel. Hopes that the Federal Reserve will slow down its pace of interest rate hikes have also given investors optimism that the US economy could avert a recession, or at least suffer only a mild cont ... read more