Asian share markets rose in thin trading on Thursday as much of the region was on holiday for the Lunar New Year, while the U.S. dollar held its ground after the Federal Reserve signaled a pause in policy easing.

Asia-Pacific markets advance on Wednesday, mirroring global sentiment as investors braced for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision, with the central bank widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged.

Many of the region’s biggest equity markets — including those in Hong Kong, mainland China and South Korea — are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The yen made broad gains on Thursday as Japan looks on track to keep raising interest rates as others cut, with the European Central Bank seen certain to deliver just the latest in a string of easings today.

Live market coverage co-anchored from Hong Kong and New York. Overnight on Wall Street is daytime in Asia. Markets never sleep, and neither does Bloomberg.

Shares in Japan opened slightly lower, weighing down a gauge of Asian equities despite a small gain for shares in Australia. Many of the region’s equity markets including China, South Korea and Taiwan remained closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Live market coverage co-anchored from Hong Kong and New York. Overnight on Wall Street is daytime in Asia. Markets never sleep, and neither does Bloomberg.

Rising tariff risks, a potential Sputnik moment in tech and looming holidays have left hedge funds and other currency traders across Asia unsure of just what bets to make, according to market participants.

U.S. stock indexes ended slightly lower on Wednesday, and tech was the biggest drag on the S&P 500, as the benchmark slipped 0.5%

Asian stocks rose and currencies edged higher as traders digested a rate pause by the Federal Reserve and shifted focus to a pair of central bank speeches taking place in the region.

According to Daniel Ghali, a senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, last week's gold price surge was driven by the return of Asia’s so-called