[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as partially weathers the hawkish FOMC meeting where the Fed hiked rates and the dotplots pencilled in another hike this year

APAC Stocks: Mixed Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as the region partially weathers the hawkish reaction triggered by the FOMC meeting, where the Fed hiked the Fed Funds Rate by 25bps to 3.75-4.00%, as expected, in a unanimous decision and dot plots pencilled in another rate hike this year. ASX 200: +0.3% Index is kept afloat as outperformance in financials, healthcare and real estate offset the losses in the commodity-related sectors, but with upside capped amid a lack of bullish drivers. Nikkei 225: +0.1% Began with firm gains following a pullback in energy prices, although it has gradually faded the majority of the opening advances as participants also brace for a widely anticipated BoJ rate hike when the central bank concludes its 2-day policy meeting on Friday. KOSPI +0.2% Trades marginally higher amid tech resilience and with South Korea's Finance Minister vowing to deploy market stabilising measures if required. Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -1.1% / Shanghai Comp -0.3% Chinese markets are pressured with underperformance in Hong Kong after the HKMA raised rates for the first time since 2023 in lock-step with the Fed, while the downside in the mainland is cushioned following the PBoC's increased liquidity efforts. US Equity Futures: +0.6% Rebounded overnight to recoup most of the post-FOMC losses after slumping on the hawkish Fed. European Equity Futures +0.4% Indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.4% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.5% on Wednesday.