Most Asia-Pacific markets strengthen as overnight gains on Wall Street boost the sentiment

Japan -1.57%. Japan April leading indicator index 97.6 vs 96.9 prior.

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China +0.15%. China May trade data, USD terms exports and imports both fell y/y.

Hong Kong +1.07%. 

Australia -0.01%. Australian Manufacturing Index May -5.1 (prior -20.2) & Construction -6.6 (prior -12.4).

Australia’ first quarter gross domestic product expanded by 2.3% year-on-year, just slightly below analyst expectations.

India +0.20%. 

In the U.S., all three major indexes closed higher on Tuesday. The Dow Industrial Average Rose 10.40 points or 0.03% at 33573.29; S&P index rose 9.94 points or 0.23% at 4283.74; NASDAQ index rose 46.90 points or 0.36% at 13276.41.

Oil prices remain steady on Wednesday as fears over supply tightness counter demand woes. 

Brent crude futures were up 9 cents, or 0.1%, at $76.38 a barrel at 0039 GMT. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $71.85 a barrel.

Gold trades in tight range on Wednesday as investors await Fed decision.

Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,963.86 per ounce by 0220 GMT. U.S. gold futures were listless at $1,979.70.

Elsewhere, spot silver fell 0.1% to $23.5651 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.4% to $1,035.73. Palladium climbed 0.3% to $1,417.51.

U.S. stock futures mostly lower on Wednesday: Dow -0.02%; S&P 500 +0.02%; Nasdaq -0.06%.

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Now read: China posts smallest trade surplus since February as exports fell more than imports, amid weakening global demand

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