HONG KONG: Asian equities fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve signalled US interest rates would go higher than expected and warned the US economy...
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS climbed 0.6% for its second straight day of gains, paring back slightly following third-quarter gross domestic product data from China.
The dollar was down against most other currencies after soaring over the past week owing to massive demand for the unit from investors running to safety.
The surprise move came as central banks around the world pledge to do what they can to mitigate the fallout from the disease, which continues to spread to new countries and is crippling economic activity.
The virus, officially named COVID-19 on Tuesday, has spooked markets around the world, having killed more than 1,100 people and infected tens of thousands since it emerged in central China at the end of last year.
Asian markets fell Wednesday as investors took their foot off the pedal following weeks of gains, with focus on the signing later in the day of the China-US trade deal.