Asia weak, Dollar shines as rate view Unchanged
Asian stocks held near three-week lows and the greenback consolidated recent gains on Thursday after minutes of the last US Federal Reserve policy meeting indicated a December rate increase was still on the cards.
Risk appetite waned, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan easing 0.2 percent, its lowest since September 21. Early stock markets were mixed with Australia down 0.5 percent while New Zealand stocks up 0.4 percent.
"In our view, if you came into these minutes with a December hike pencilled in, there is no reason to change your stance," Omair Sharif, an economist at Societe Generale, wrote in a note. Wall Street struggled to find fresh momentum after breaking conclusively below a 100-day moving average this week. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 0.09 percent, to 18,144.2.
The S&P 500 gained 0.11 percent, to 2,139.17 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC slipped 0.15 percent, to 5,239.02 with corporate earnings firmly in focus. Volumes were light.
Asian stocks held near three-week lows and the greenback consolidated recent gains on Thursday after minutes of the last US Federal Reserve policy meeting indicated a December rate increase was still on the cards. 
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