Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 2.56%, Shanghai Composite down 0.40% Hang Seng down 0.15% ASX up 0.39%
- Commodities : Gold at $4,977.44 (-0.22%) Silver at $78.868 (-1.36%), Brent Oil at $101.82 (-1.53%), WTI Oil at $93.33 (-2.32%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.179, UK 10-year yield at 4.6950, Germany 10-year yield at 2.9028
News & Data:
- (USD) Pending Home Sales m/m 1.8% to -0.6% expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher on Wednesday, led by strong gains in South Korea, as investors monitored Japan’s latest trade data and looked ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Market expectations point to the Fed holding rates steady within the 3.5%–3.75% range.
South Korea’s Kospi surged more than 3%, while the small-cap Kosdaq rose 1.18%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 advanced 1.91% and the Topix gained 0.95% after data showed exports increased 4.2% year-on-year in February, surpassing Reuters estimates of a 1.6% rise. However, the growth marked a slowdown from January’s sharp 16.8% expansion.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.25%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.3%, and mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 0.13%.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continued to weigh on sentiment. A series of attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates’ energy infrastructure has intensified concerns over potential supply disruptions amid the ongoing Iran conflict. Incidents included a drone strike on a major gas facility, a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, and tanker damage near the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices were little changed, with U.S. crude at $96.27. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures were largely flat, while Wall Street ended the previous session modestly higher, supported by market momentum.
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The post Wednesday 18th March 2026: Asia Markets Rise as Korea Leads Gains; Investors Eye Fed Decision and Middle East Tensions first appeared on IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog.