In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.46 percent, with the financials and utilities sectors trading in negative territory. Energy sector stocks, however, rose following the boost in oil prices overnight, but shippers and air transport names declined. In Seoul, the Kospi reversed early gains to slip 0.17 percent. Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were up 0.32 percent and 1.78 percent, respectively, while Posco fell 1.61 percent. the Shanghai composite added 0.10 percent and the smaller Shenzhen composite was nearly flat.

In Currency Markets the US dollar held steady against a basket of currencies on Wednesday, its earlier bounce from two-week lows flagging amid lingering trade conflict concerns. The dollar was 0.1 percent lower at 109.92 yen, after going as high as 110.23 on Tuesday. The Chinese yuan slipped to a new six-month low of 6.615 per dollar after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) lowered the currency’s midpoint for the sixth straight day to its weakest in six months. The trade-sensitive Australian dollar was down 0.25 percent at $0.7371, edging back towards a 13-month low of $0.7345 printed last week.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Wednesday, pushed up by supply disruptions in Libya and Canada and after U.S. officials said all countries should stop Iranian crude imports from November. Brent crude futures were at $76.60 per barrel, up 29 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $70.79 a barrel, up 26 cents, or 0.3 percent. The United States has told countries to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero from November, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.

In US Equity Markets stocks edged higher on Tuesday, with General Electric and technology stocks helping Wall Street recoup some losses from a day earlier on escalating global trade tensions. The S&P technology index rose 0.39 percent, while shares of Netflix jumped 3 percent. The S&P 500 was up 0.18 percent, at 2,722.00 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.19 percent, at 7,546.34. U.S. homebuilder Lennar jumped about 6 percent as strong housing demand helped the company report better-than-expected quarterly results.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices were flat across the board on Wednesday, with support from risk aversion in broader markets neutralised by lukewarm demand for fresh supply in the longer-dated maturities. The five-year and 10-year JGB yields were unchanged at minus 0.115 percent and 0.030 percent, respectively. The 40-year yield was also flat, at 0.865 percent. Tuesday’s 1 trillion yen ($9.10 billion) 20-year JGB auction saw weak investor demand due to their relatively low yields.