Investing.com - Asian stocks were mixed on Thursday as investors debated anew whether the U.S. central bank will hike rates in December.
The Shanghai Composite rose 1.68%, while the S&P/ASX 200 eased 1.06% and the Nikkei 225 rose 1.03%.
Overnight, U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Oil & Gas, Basic Materials and Consumer Services sectors led shares lower.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.28%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.35%, and the NASDAQ Composite index declined 0.05%.
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen reiterated that a December rate hike could be on the table if the U.S. economy demonstrates continued improvement over the next few weeks.
In testimony before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday morning, Yellen noted that the U.S. economy is "performing well," amid solid increases in domestic spending, as some of the downside risks related to the global economic slowdown over the summer have faded.
The Federal Open Market Committee, Yellen said, also expects long-term inflation to move toward its targeted goal of 2%, as temporary drags from a stronger dollar and lower energy prices recede.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor statistics will release two monthly national employment reports before the FOMC next meets in December, including one on Friday. The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis will also release its second estimate of U.S. third quarter GDP and its October report on Personal Income and Outlays later this month.
"If the incoming information supports that expectation then our statement indicates that December would be a live possibility. Importantly, we've made no decision about it," Yellen said in her testimony.