[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as partially weathers the hawkish FOMC meeting where the Fed hiked rates and the dotplots pencilled in another hike this year

APAC Stocks: Mixed

• Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as the region partially weathers the hawkish reaction triggered by the FOMC meeting, where the Fed hiked the Fed Funds Rate by 25bps to 3.75-4.00%, as expected, in a unanimous decision and dot plots pencilled in another rate hike this year.

ASX 200: +0.3%

• Index is kept afloat as outperformance in financials, healthcare and real estate offset the losses in the commodity-related sectors, but with upside capped amid a lack of bullish drivers.

Nikkei 225: +0.1%

• Began with firm gains following a pullback in energy prices, although it has gradually faded the majority of the opening advances as participants also brace for a widely anticipated BoJ rate hike when the central bank concludes its 2-day policy meeting on Friday.

KOSPI +0.2%

• Trades marginally higher amid tech resilience and with South Korea's Finance Minister vowing to deploy market stabilising measures if required.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -1.1% / Shanghai Comp -0.3%

• Chinese markets are pressured with underperformance in Hong Kong after the HKMA raised rates for the first time since 2023 in lock-step with the Fed, while the downside in the mainland is cushioned following the PBoC's increased liquidity efforts.

US Equity Futures: +0.6%

• Rebounded overnight to recoup most of the post-FOMC losses after slumping on the hawkish Fed.

European Equity Futures +0.4%

• Indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.4% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.5% on Wednesday.