Asian Stocks Edge Higher as U.S. Nears End of Record Shutdown and Fed Cut Bets Rise

Asian stocks opened cautiously higher on Wednesday as optimism grew that the U.S. Congress would soon end the historic federal government shutdown. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index (excluding Japan) gained 0.1% in early trade, while investors awaited final approval of a funding bill by the House of Representatives to reopen government agencies shuttered since October 1.

Australia’s ASX 200 advanced 0.2%, boosted by lithium and commodity stocks, while Japan’s Topix rose 0.6%. Market sentiment brightened after the U.S. Senate passed legislation to conclude the record shutdown, with analysts at Westpac noting that a House vote could soon follow.

In U.S. markets, the S&P 500 e-mini futures traded flat after a mixed Wall Street session on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.2% to a record high, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.3%. With key economic reports delayed by the shutdown, traders turned their attention to ADP’s private jobs data, which showed employers shedding an average of 11,250 jobs weekly over the past month.

Growing concerns over slowing growth have strengthened expectations of another Federal Reserve rate cut. Fed funds futures now price in a 68% chance of a 25-basis-point reduction at the December 10 meeting, up from 62% the previous day, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

The U.S. dollar index slipped 0.2% to 99.45, its lowest this month, while the yen and euro remained steady at 154.13 and $1.1583, respectively. Brent crude climbed 1.6% to $65.09 a barrel, supported by fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and hopes of political resolution in Washington. Gold rose 0.4% to $4,141.35 per ounce, and Bitcoin edged up 0.4% to $103,074.41, reflecting cautious investor optimism across global markets.