• Asian stock markets retreated again on Wednesday, extending a rout that began last week as U.S. political uncertainty exacerbated worries over slowing global economic growth.

Investors were unnerved by the U.S. federal government partial shutdown and President Donald Trump’s hostile stance toward the Federal Reserve chairman.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.5 percent, brushing a two-month low.

• Japan’s Nikkei, which plummeted into bear market territory the previous day, ended higher after seesawing on Wednesday, helped by short-covering.

The Nikkei share average closed 0.89 percent higher at 19,327.06, barely shaking off Tuesday’s 5.01 plunge - the steepest single-day decline in over two years.

• China stocks slipped on Wednesday amid lingering worries about the economy and caution over persisting U.S. political uncertainties, as a federal government shutdown and President Donald Trump’s hostile stance towards the Federal Reserve unnerved investors.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.5 percent, to 3,002.03, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3 percent to 2,498.29 points.