MSCI s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan went up 0.3% in early trade. For the week the index is very marginally higher. Banking shares helped Japan s Nikkei rise 0.2%. The euro poked above $1.10.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold rates on Wednesday, with the spotlight squarely on comments from Chair Jerome Powell during his press conference as well as the central bank s dot plot and summary economic projections.
Many analysts suspect risks are to the upside, with Goldman Sachs tipping 238,000 including a chunk of workers returning from strikes, and a jobless rate of 3.8%.
MSCI s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.39% higher and set for a near 7% gain in November, its strongest monthly performance since January.
Nasdaq futures were down 0.2% and S&P 500 futures fell 0.1% early in the Asia day. Volumes are likely to be lightened through the rest of the week by Thursday s Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.