Asian stocks extend rout as profit-taking and rate-cut anxiety persist

Asian Stocks Extend Declines on Fed Rate Cut Uncertainty

Asian stocks continued their downward trajectory on Thursday, as doubts over the timing and scale of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts weighed on investor sentiment. Following a weak start to the year, regional markets took cues from Wall Street, which saw U.S. stock benchmarks fall for a second straight session. Investors remained cautious and opted to lock in profits after the tremendous gains seen in December.