In a photo taken on November 4, 2019 a subway train crosses a rail bridge over the Han river, before the skyline of the Yeouido business district of Seoul.
This is CNBC's live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.
Asia-Pacific markets fell across the region after the U.S. Federal Reserve held its benchmark policy rate, but said it will raise interest rates one more time this year, according to the central bank's projections.
Projections showed the central bank expects to hike rates to a median of 5.6% by the end of 2023, up from the current range between 5.25% and 5.5%.
The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee projected two rate cuts in 2024, which is two fewer than its forecast in June. That would put the funds rate around 5.1%.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.37% and closed at 7,065.2, its lowest level since July 10.
Japan's Nikkei 225 is also slipped 1.37% as the Bank of Japan starts its two-day monetary policy meeting, ending the day at 32,571.03. The Topix was down 0.94% and closed at 2,383.41.
South Korea's Kospi was 1.75% lower, leading losses in Asia and finishing at 2,514.97, its lowest level in almost a month. The Kosdaq closed 2.5% down at 860.68, also at its lowest level since July 10.
Money Report
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 1.34%, while mainland Chinese markets are also down for a third straight day, with the CSI 300 losing 0.9% and closing at 3,672.44.
Overnight in the U.S., all three major indexes lost ground as investors digested the Fed's moves, with the Nasdaq Composite leading losses and down 1.5%, dragged by names like Microsoft, Nvidia and Google-parent Alphabet.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly> Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.94% , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.22%.
— CNBC's Jeff Cox, Jesse Pound and Alex Harring contributed to this report.
Nio shares climb in sea of losses in Hong Kong after smartphone launch
Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio gained as much as 2.31% after the company announced the launch of its first mobile phone.
The stock was one of the few gainers on the Hang Seng, and the only gainer among major tech names as the broader index sold off after the U.S. Federal Reserve's signal that rates will be higher for longer.
The new phone will be shipped on Sept. 28.
—Lim Hui Jie
Growth of gaming accessories market is 'unabated,' says Razer CEO
Min-Liang Tan, co-founder and CEO of gaming company Razer, explains why he thinks interactive entertainment is "here to stay."
New Zealand economy expands more than expected in second quarter
New Zealand's gross domestic product expanded 0.9% quarter-on-quarter in the three months ended June, more than the 0.5% growth expected by economists.
The figure also followed a revised 0.0% growth rate in the first quarter, which means the country was not in a technical recession. The previous reported figure was -0.1%.
On a year-on-year basis, GDP climbed 3.2%, higher than the previous quarter's 2.9% expansion and also higher than the 3.1% expected by the Reuters poll.
— Lim Hui Jie
Hybe shares slide over 4% even as all members of BTS renew contracts
Shares of K-pop agency Hybe slid over 4% in early trade even as the company reported that all members of boy group BTS have renewed their contracts with Bighit Music, a subsidiary of Hybe.
The share price drop is largely in line with the decline in the broader Kospi index, which fell 1.07% on Thursday.
The seven member boy group debuted in 2013, and all renewed their contracts in October 2018. While the label did not announce when the new contract will end, South Korean media cited a Hybe statement saying "all of BTS will be together after 2025."
— Lim Hui Jie
CNBC Pro: 'Relentless pursuit of eyeballs': Analysts name China internet stocks to buy — giving 2 over 50% upside
Several stocks are set to benefit from the "relentless pursuit of eyeballs" in the Chinese internet sector, according to analysts at asset management firm AllianceBernstein.
"We're now seeing e-commerce related activity pick up on media platforms hitherto less associated with online retail," they said in a Sept. 15 note.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Amala Balakrishner
Fed leaves rates unchanged, expects one more hike this year
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of its two-day meeting Wednesday.
However, the central bank signaled it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year. The final increase, if realized, would be the last in this cycle, according to the Fed's projections.
— Jeff Cox, Michelle Fox
CNBC Pro: Cathie Wood is a fan of this AI company, and says the 'AI revolution' will 'change everything'
Cathie Wood says a U.K.-founded company is "one of the best AI companies in the world."
The founder and CEO of Ark Invest said Wednesday added that the "AI revolution is upon us and is going to change everything" despite fears that there will be a repeat of the dotcom bubble bust in the 1990s.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Weizhen Tan
CNBC Pro: 'Incredibly compelling': The pros love small-cap stocks right now. Here are their top picks
The conditions are right for buying small-cap names, according to many analysts and investors. CNBC Pro takes a look at five such stocks, including two on a "high conviction" list.
Subscribers can read more here.
— Weizhen Tan
Notable shift in interest rate markets pushes out first 2024 rate cut by Fed
The probability that the Fed will cut interest rates early in 2024 is seen as increasingly unlikely, based on 30-Day Fed Funds futures pricing data in the CME's FedWatch tool.
One month ago, the chance that the Fed would cut a quarter point to 5.0-5.25% in January stood at more than 21% — today it's less than 1%.
One month ago, the odds of a quarter point reduction by the March 2024 meeting were 34.2% and the chance of a half-point reduction was 10.2%. Today, pricing data shows those odds have fallen to 9.5% and 0.1%, respectively.
— Scott Schnipper
Dow joins other indexes at session lows
The Dow joined the other two major indexes in trading at sessions lows as Federal Reserve Chair Powell spoke. It has been a mainly positive day, with the session low still placing the blue-chip average around 0.1% up on the day.
— Alex Harring
Nvidia extends month-to-date loss to 13.1% and decline since 52-week high to almost 15%
Nvidia — the best performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2023 — extended its month-to-date loss to 13.1% in the wake of the Federal Reserve suggesting that interest rates will stay higher for longer.
Since reaching an all-time high on Aug. 24, 2023, Nvidia has now fallen 14.7%.
In late day trading Wednesday, Nvidia is ahead 194% in 2023. At the August high, Nvidia had climbed 244%.
— Scott Schnipper
