- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Solar storm could impact US hurricane recovery efforts: agency
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- South Korea's Han Kang wins literature Nobel
- Ikea posts fall in annual sales after lowering prices
- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- 7-Eleven owner restructures to fight takeover
- Sri Lanka recovering faster than expected: World Bank
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as most markets track Wall St record
- Uniqlo owner reports record annual earnings
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as markets track Wall St record
- Indonesia biomass drive threatens key forests: report
- Mumbai mourns Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- China opens $71 bn 'swap facility' to boost markets
- Asian markets track Wall St record as Hong Kong, Shanghai stabilise
- 'Denying my potential': women at Japan's top university call out gender imbalance
- China's central bank says opens up $70.6 bn in liquidity to boost market
- Youth facing unprecedented wave of violence, UN envoy warns
- 'A casino in every kitchen': Brazil's online gambling craze
- Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
- Discord seen as online home for renegades
- US forecasts severe solar storm starting Thursday
- Ratan Tata: Indian mogul who built a global powerhouse
- One dead as storm Kirk tears through Spain, Portugal, France
- Indian business titan Ratan Tata dead at 86
- Fed minutes highlight divisions over rate cut decision
- Steve McQueen debuts new WWII film at London festival
- Nobel winners hope protein work will spur 'incredible' breakthroughs
- What are proteins again? Nobel-winning chemistry explained
- AI steps into science limelight with Nobel wins
- Overshooting 1.5C risks 'irreversible' climate impact: study
- Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer
- Global stocks diverge as Chinese shares tumble
- Time runs out in Florida to flee Hurricane Milton
- Chad issues warning ahead of more devastating floods
- Creator's death no bar to new 'Dragon Ball' products
- Chinese stocks tumble on lack of fresh stimulus
- Trio wins chemistry Nobel for protein design, prediction
Asian markets swing on lingering rate concerns
Asian markets were mixed Monday with traders on edge as they considered the prospect of more US interest rate hikes aimed at bringing down stubbornly high inflation.
Equities have struggled this month to build on January's rally, with recent data showing that the Federal Reserve still had plenty of work to do to get prices under control.
Investors are now awaiting the release of minutes from the central bank's most recent policy meeting, hoping to gauge officials' views on their next steps.
Sentiment was given a jolt last week by comments from some members who said they were open to a 50-basis-point hike at the next gathering.
Several others have already warned that borrowing costs would likely have to go higher and stay there for longer to tame inflation, which remains elevated despite easing.
That has renewed concerns that the world's top economy could tip into recession, with commentators warning earnings will also take a hit.
In early trade, Asian markets fluctuated following a mixed day on Wall Street on Friday.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei rose while Tokyo, Sydney and Manila were flat. Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington slipped.
Analysts warned that while traders expect further rate hikes, there could be more bad news down the line.
National Australia Bank's Tapas Strickland said: "The equity market so far seems sanguine about the rates outlook, seemingly taking more signal from the better than expected macro data, than from what that then means for rates and getting inflation down."
And Michael Wilson at Morgan Stanley said companies faced an earnings recession.
"The bear market rally that began in October from reasonable prices and low expectations has morphed into a speculative frenzy based on a Fed pause/pivot that isn't coming," he wrote in a note.
The likelihood of more rate hikes provided further support to the dollar, which extended gains against its major peers, sitting around highs not seen since December.
While oil edged up Monday following hefty losses last week, the stronger dollar kept a lid on prices, with concerns about the impact of a possible recession on demand adding to downward pressure.
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 27,507.33 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.3 percent at 20,771.65
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,247.81
Dollar/yen: UP at 134.46 yen from 134.17 yen on Friday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0676 from $1.0697
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2017 from $1.2045
Euro/pound: UP at 88.84 pence from 88.79 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $76.79 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.4 percent at $83.30 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 33,826.69 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,004.36 (close)
M.Anderson--CPN