Asian stocks today: Market performances mixed amid global rate cues and Venezuela developments; Nikkei, Hang Seng slip

Asian markets had mixed performances in Wednesday’s sessions, tempering Wall Street’s recent historic records, while the interest rate trend in the global market, coupled with developments in Venezuela, caught the interest of most traders. Turning to foreign news, US troops reported the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while Trump claimed ownership of Greenland control.Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.9 per cent to 52,041.97 and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.5 per cent to 4,503.23, both retreating from their previous day’s records. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3 per cent to 8,708.50. Hong Kong’s market declined while Shanghai saw modest gains.Sensex was also mostly flat being down a little over 29 points at 10.56 am, while Nifty was down around 10 points.“Global uncertainty continues to deepen,” said Tan Boon Heng of Mizuho Bank in Singapore, pointing to the dramatic developments in Venezuela and the unusual situation with Greenland, as reported by AP.Wall Street, however, continued its upward trajectory. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6 per cent to 6,944.82, while the Dow Jones rose 1 per cent to 49,462.08. The tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.6 per cent, reaching 23,547.17. Small companies performed particularly well, with the Russell 2000 jumping 1.4 per cent.In the commodities market, oil prices declined with US crude dropping 78 cents to $56.35 per barrel. Safe-haven assets like gold and silver also fell, despite their strong performance over the past year amid global tensions.Currency markets saw minor changes, with the dollar up slightly against the yen and the euro making small gains. Yields on bonds rose slightly, with the 10-year bond yield climbing to 4.16 per cent. Investors are now eagerly waiting for the next meeting of the Federal Reserve in late January, after three interest rate cuts in 2025.