In the corporate sector, Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM ) will be in the spotlight after the oil major warned that a decline in oil refining profits, along with weak returns from across its operations, would dent its fourth-quarter income by around $1.75 billion versus the prior three-month period.

Asian stocks drifted lower on Wednesday, with a robust dollar keeping the yen pinned near six-month lows as traders wagered the Federal Reserve will likely be slow in cutting rates after data showed the U.

Asian stock markets exhibited a mixed performance on Wednesday, as strong US economic data clouded the outlook for rate cuts in 2025. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged down 0.