Asian markets close Tuesday in red ahead of major central bank meetings

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) – Stock markets in Asia closed Tuesday in red as investors focused on impending decisions from global central banks, including the US Federal Reserve.

Investors were cautious as growing concerns over rising inflation and the coronavirus omicron variant affect markets negatively.

A negative trend was seen in Asian markets, led by sales of technology stocks, particularly due to decreased risk appetite ahead of the US Fed’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, fell 24.18 points, or 0.64%, to close at around 3,744 points.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock exchange was down by 207.85 points, or 0.73%, to 28,432.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, fell 318.63 points, or 1.33%, to 23,635.

China’s Shanghai stock exchange slipped by 19.56 points, or 0.53%, to 3,661, while the Indian Sensex benchmark dropped by 317.74 points, or 0.55%, to close at 57,965 points.

The Singapore index was the only market that saw gains, rising by 3.52 points, or 0.11%, to 3,123.