Sawt Falasteen - Asian markets drop as traders brace for Fed hike

Surging prices, moves to tighten monetary policy, China's Covid lockdowns, the Ukraine war and a stronger dollar have come together in recent weeks to cause a massive headache for investors, sending them running to the hills.

All eyes are on the conclusion Wednesday of the US Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, where it is expected to lift borrowing costs 0.5 percentage points for the first time since 2000.

However, while officials see a hawkish move as necessary to control 40-year high inflation while still allowing for economic growth, there is a growing unease that they could knock the fragile pandemic recovery off course and even cause a recession.

Meanwhile, the policy board is also expected to discuss offloading the trillions of dollars worth of bonds bought to help keep prices subdued in the past, a move known as quantitative easing.

"With a 50 basis point hike... all but certain, the (post meeting) press conference will provide important colour around the prospects of a soft landing, the neutral fed funds rate and balance sheet normalisation," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.

"One question on everyone's mind: Are 75 basis point increments on the table?"

Forecasts for a swift run-up in rates this year have hammered tech firms who are reliant on debt to fund growth, though dip-buying helped them record a much-needed gain Monday in New York.

- Australia rate hike -

Asian traders were unable to track the positive lead with liquidity thinned by public holidays around the region.

Hong Kong returned from a long weekend break to shed more than two percent in early exchanges before paring these losses following a more than four percent surge Friday.

Alibaba was a key support in the bounce as it recovered from an initial drop of more than nine percent in reaction to a report by state broadcaster CCTV that officials in Hangzhou, where the firm is based, had imposed curbs on an individual surnamed Ma -- raising worries about founder Jack Ma.

The losses were soon erased, however, after police indicated the accused person's name was spelled with three Chinese characters. Jack Ma's Chinese name is Ma Yun.

Sydney fell after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted interest rates 25 basis points, the first hike since 2010 and more than the 15 points expected. Officials also indicated further increases were in the pipeline.

The move sent the Australian dollar briefly rallying more than one percent against the greenback before settling back slightly.

Shares in Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok and Wellington were also down, while London opened on the back foot. Frankfurt and Paris edged up.

Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai, Singapore and Jakarta were closed for holidays.

Investors were also reeling from a sharp slowdown in Chinese activity caused by lockdowns in key parts of the country including financial hub Shanghai, and strict containment in Beijing.

The measures, and Chinese leaders' refusal to shift from their zero-Covid policy, have hamstrung the world's number two economy and figures in other countries including the United States suggest they are now having a global impact.

The strife in China weighed on oil prices owing to fears about the impact on demand from the biggest crude importer.

Oil prices edged up as European Union chiefs discuss a possible embargo on shipments from Russia linked to its invasion of Ukraine.

A sanctions plan is being put together by the European Commission that could be put to member states Wednesday, sources said, adding that the ban would be introduced over six to eight months to give countries time to diversify their supply.

- Key figures at around 0720 GMT -

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.1 percent at 21,066.10

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.8 percent at 7,481.02

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0502 from $1.0506 on Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2518 from $1.2489

Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.84 pence from 84.09 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 130.15 yen from 130.16 yen

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.5 percent at $104.69 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.5 percent at $107.08 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 33,061.50 (close)

N.AbuHussein--SF-PST