Asian stocks mixed ahead of comments from U.S. Federal Reserve

Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press</span>
Published Tuesday, September 19, 2017 12:38AM EDT

TOKYO - Asian shares were mixed Tuesday, as investors awaited comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and Japan's benchmark rose on optimism over a weak yen and a record finish on Wall Street.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.5 per cent to 20,197.56 in early trading, coming off a national holiday Monday. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up nearly 0.1 per cent to 5,724.70. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2 per cent to 2,413.48. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was little changed at 28,162.32, while the Shanghai Composite dipped 0.2 per cent to 3,355.96.

WALL STREET: The S&P 500 index rose 3.64 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,503.87. The Dow gained 63.01 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 22,331.35. Both indexes closed at new record highs as the market extended gains from last week.

THE QUOTE: "So what could whisk the rug from under optimistic investors' feet? Not much today, though as we noted yesterday, this happier more stable backdrop brings central banks back into play," says Rob Carnell, head of research in Asia of ING.

THE FED: Investors were looking ahead to the latest two-day policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which begins Tuesday. Forecasters expect the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged and stick to plans to raise rates in December. But traders will be listening for any indications the central bank could move sooner.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 1 cent to $49.92 a barrel. It rose 2 cents to $49.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, dropped 9 cents to $55.39 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 111.52 yen from 111.39 late Monday. The euro strengthened to $1.1968 from $1.1945.

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AP Business Writer Alex Veiga contributed to this report

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