In Asian Equity Markets Japan broader Topix was off by 0.98 percent, with losses seen in all but one of its 33 sub-indexes. Declines were led by the Topix mining and oil sub-indexes, which fell 4.39 percent and 3.15 percent, respectively. The Kospi traded flat in Seoul as gains in large cap technology names were offset by declines seen in other major sectors. Samsung Electronics rose 2.6 percent and SK Hynix added 4.6 percent, while steelmakers and financials slid. Greater China markets pulled back slightly. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 0.65 percent, with the energy and financials sectors weighing.

In Currency Markets the US dollar edged higher versus a basket of currencies on Wednesday, with investors awaiting the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last policy meeting for hints on the pace of further U.S. monetary tightening. The dollar index rose 0.1 percent to 93.681. On Monday, the index set a five-month high of 94.058. In emerging markets, the Turkish lira also sold off more after rating agencies sounded the alarm on Tuesday about plans by President Tayyip Erdogan to tighten his grip on monetary policy. The lira fell to a record low of 4.8450 per U.S. dollar in early Asian trade on Wednesday. After paring some losses, the lira stood at 4.7700 per dollar, still down roughly 2 percent on the day.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged lower on Wednesday with the possibility of higher OPEC output weighing on the market, although geopolitical risks are expected to keep prices near multi-year highs. In addition, Venezuela’s crude output could fell further following a disputed presidential election. Brent futures fell 43 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $79.14 a barrel, after climbing 35 cents on Tuesday. Last week, the global benchmark hit $80.50 a barrel, the highest since November 2014. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures eased 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $71.95 a barrel, having climbed on Tuesday to $72.83 a barrel, the highest since November 2014.

In US Equity Markets indexes fell on Tuesday as investors weighed comments on trade talks between the United States and China and as energy and industrial shares fell. The S&P 500 lost 0.31 percent, to 2,724.63 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.21 percent, to 7,378.46. Shares of Micron Technology climbed 8.2 percent after the memory-chip maker announced a $10 billion stock-buyback plan. The consumer discretionary index fell 0.3 percent after warnings from retailer Kohl’s and auto parts seller Autozone. Kohl’s fell 6.9 percent, weighing on other retailers, after forecasting slower growth in the second half of the year.

In Bond Markets the U.S. Treasury Department sold $33 billion in two-year notes to fair demand on Tuesday, the first sale of $99 billion in coupon-bearing supply this week. The sale came as two-year yields held just below almost 10-year highs reached on Thursday, as investors bet the Federal Reserve will raise rates at least two more times this year. The two-year notes sold at a high yield of 2.59 percent, just below where they traded before the auction. Dealers took 45.37 percent of the sale, their largest share since Dec. 2016.  Demand for this week’s U.S. debt sales is being watched for indications on whether last week’s sell-off attracts buyers, or if investors are reticent to buy the debt with further weakness possible.