Asian stock markets close Tuesday with gains

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Major Asian stock markets closed Tuesday with gains ahead of the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, rose 0.64% or 19.44 points to 3,049.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange increased 0.44%, or 120.77 points, to 27,688.

Japan's annual inflation rate rose to 3.0% in August, its highest level since September 2014, due to rising food and fuel cost following the Russia-Ukraine war and weakening yen.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, gained 1.16% or 215.4 points to 18,781.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange climbed 0.22%, or 6.80 points, to close at 3,122.

In line with market forecast, the People's Bank of China kept the one-year loan prime rate unchanged at 3.65% amid a decline in yuan.

The Indian Sensex benchmark went up 0.98%, or 578 points, to end the day at 59,719.7 points, while the Singapore index hiked 0.33%, or 10.6 points, to close at 3,266.9.