TOKYO – Asian shares fell in muted trading Wednesday as world markets cautiously awaited the U.S. central bank's latest assessment on the economy.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 inched down less than 0.1% to finish at 29,914.33. South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.6% to 3,050.17.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.5% to 6,795.20. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged down nearly 0.1% to 29,014.67, while the Shanghai Composite was little changed, down less than 0.1% at 3,444.70.
Investors are awaiting the Federal Reserve’s economic and interest rate projections, expected later in the day. Economists expect Fed Chair Jerome Powell will try to convince jittery financial markets that the central bank can continue providing support without igniting inflation.