- 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 mixed, with rates set to go higher
Asian markets were mixed Tuesday, with traders trying to gauge the outlook for the US economy as they price in more interest rate hikes than previously predicted.
With Wall Street closed Monday for Presidents' Day there were few catalysts for regional investors, with focus on the release later in the week of minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting.
After data this month showed the jobs market continues to boom and prices continue to rise well above the Fed's target, several Fed officials have lined up to warn borrowing costs will need to go much higher for longer than was previously expected.
Some have even suggested they were open to lifting rates by 50 basis points next month, twice as much as expected by markets.
That has dealt a blow to hopes the central bank would stop hiking soon and even begin cutting rates before the end of the year. The prospect of tighter policy has also fanned fears of a recession.
Chuck Cumello, of Essex Financial Services, told Bloomberg Radio: "We're in for a more volatile ride and I think the market is finally waking up to (the idea that) rates are going to stay higher for longer."
Hong Kong led losses, shedding more than one percent, while Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington were also down.
Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Manila edged up.
London, Paris and Frankfurt also fell at the open.
After enjoying a strong January, markets stuttered this month as hopes for a rate cut subsided. SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes said dealers were also still assessing China's reopening.
"Since the Chinese New Year holiday ended in late January, interest rates have been higher (and) the dollar has staged a modest rebound. As a result, regional equities have softened," he said in a commentary.
"Some of these moves reflect a hawkish repricing of Fed expectations based on more robust growth and inflation data. But regional weakness also appears to reflect scepticism about the likely strength of China's recovery, based on the recent underperformance of Chinese equities."
Oil prices were also mixed as worries about higher interest rates and a possible recession played off against hopes that China's reopening will fuel a surge in demand.
- Key figures around 0820 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 27,473.10 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.7 percent at 20,529.49 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3,306.52 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,004.23
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0668 from $1.0686 on Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2016 from $1.2035
Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.79 pence from 88.80 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 134.57 yen from 134.07 yen
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.4 percent at $76.82 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.8 percent at $83.41 per barrel
New York - Dow: Closed for public holiday
St.Ch.Baker--CPN