The minutes would likely provide cues on the future rate-hike trajectory of the U.S. central bank. Recent data has heightened inflation concerns, sparking fears of a prolonged higher interest-rate regime in the world's largest economy.
Asian markets declined, with the MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropping 0.59%. Beaten-down metal stocks were top sectoral gainer, rising 0.6%. The index is down over 10.2% so far in February. Among individual stocks, BEML rose 2% after it signed memorandum of understanding with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation-led special purpose vehicle to supply metro rolling stocks for Bahrain metro rail project. (Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran and Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
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