"Asian Stocks Decline Amid Fed Speculation and Global Market Jitters"

Asian stock markets experienced mixed results, with China's CSI 300 index leading losses and Japan's Nikkei 225 also falling, while India's Nifty 50 bucked the trend with gains. Investors are reacting to the Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes, which suggest interest rate cuts in 2024 but lack clarity on timing. Additionally, Japan is set to use reserved funds to cover earthquake damages, and China's service sector PMI indicates expansion. Oil prices rose following U.S. warnings to Houthi militants and OPEC's commitment to market stability. The 10-year Treasury yield rose above 4%, influencing tech stocks and real estate sectors. Job openings in the U.S. were near expectations, and the manufacturing sector showed slight improvement.