Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday, as gains on Wall Street overnight were offset by disappointment with Apple earnings, with traders looking ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting results.
Markets in Japan, Hong Kong and Korea were shuttered Wednesday for holidays. Japan is shut for the rest of the week for the Golden Week holiday.
Meanwhile, in the currency market, the U.S. dollar fetched 112.05 yen late afternoon Wednesday, down from highs around 112.30 yen overnight.
Australian markets were off amid declines in banking and some resources shares.
Among Australian-listed companies, BHP Billiton's ration outlook was changed to positive from stable by Moody's Investors Service on Wednesday, while keeping the A3 rating unchanged.
BHP shares ended down 2.3%, as resource plays generally moved lower.
Rio Tinto was down 1%, Alacer Gold was off 3.4% and Woodside shed 0.5%.
Declines in banking shares also weighed the Australian market.
ANZ fell 2.8% after reporting lower-than-expected earnings on Tuesday, with fiscal first-half profit coming in at A$3.41 billion, compared with expectations for A$3.49 billion.
In a note Tuesday, Citi said the Australian division weighed on results as retail banking suffered from a management decision to pull back from the mortgage market amid intense competition.
Among peers, CBA fell 1.7% and NAB lost 2.7%.
Shares of Australia-listed telecom Vocus plunged 27.2% to end at A$2.44 after the company cut its earnings outlook for fiscal 2017, saying it expected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) at $365 million to $375 million U.S., compared with previous guidance of $430 million to $450 million U.S.
In Singapore, the heavily weighted banking shares were sharply higher in late afternoon trade.
DBS jumped 4.9% after reporting on Tuesday better-than-expected first quarter net profit of 1.21 billion Singapore dollars, up 1% on-year, above the S$1.09 billion forecast in an economist poll.
Peers UOB and OCBC advanced 1.9% and 2%, respectively, in afternoon trade.
Elsewhere, Hon Hai ended up 0.5% and Pegatron was flat, but Largan added 0.4% and Catcher rose 0.8%.
Nomura said in a note on Wednesday that the outlook for suppliers of major computer plays could improve in the months ahead.
The U.S. central bank was expected to hold interest rates steady after its two-day meeting that began Tuesday, as it pauses to examine more economic data, but it may hint that conditions are on track for an increase in June.
In other markets
Shanghai’s CSI 300 docked 13.45 points, or 0.4%, to 3,413.13
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index gathered 14.06 points, or 0.1%, to 9,955.33
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index moved up 26.7 points, or 0.8%, to 3,237.81
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 shaved off 16.65 points, or 0.2%, to 7,405.84
In Australia, the ASX 200 plunged 58.02 points, or 1%, to 5,892.34
