- Asian stocks rose ahead of a report that is expected to show a slowing in US inflation, which will help shape the Federal Reserve's next steps. The purchase of shares in the country's largest banks by China's sovereign wealth fund fueled even more optimism.
- MSCI's Asian equity index was on track for a sixth day of gains, with stock benchmarks in Japan and South Korea rising around 1%. The Hang Seng Index increased by up to 2.2% after China's state-owned Central Huijin Investment increased its stake in the country's largest banks for the first time since 2015. Oil fell for a third day, wiping out all of the gains made on Monday following Hamas' attack on Israel.
- Traders' attention is now focused on Thursday's US consumer price data, which economists predict will show further easing in inflation. Officials agreed last month that policy should remain restrictive for some time, while noting that the risks of overtightening now had to be balanced against keeping inflation on a downward path.
