Asian markets down on Wednesday, Japan stocks disappointed by BoJ

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - Following a disappointing BoJ, meaning to act strongly but not quite yet, Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell -2.08% today. South Korea's Kospi (-0.81%), Hong Kong's Hang Seng (-0.19), and China's Shanghai Composite (-0.06%) also eased, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 (+0.18%) moved higher after its CPI report and Leading Index, but especially ahead of tomorrow's HSBC flash Chinese PMI for January (mkt 51.8, last 51.5) ahead of next week's official PMI (last 50.6, no survey yet).

Futures for the German DAX 30 (flat) and the French CAC 40 (+0.22%) are signaling a higher opening. WTI crude oil is down to $96.60 (-0.10%) and Gold moves to $1692.80 (+0.05%). Apart from UK data, little is expected of the economic calendar this morning, but later in the US session, EMU preliminary December consumer confidence will be released.