Asian Markets Diverge as Divided Fed Leaves Investors Guessing

The Asian stock markets are trading in mixed conditions after the Federal Reserve's most divided decision under Chair Kevin Warsh. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose nearly one percent, while South Korea's KOSPI fell about one percent.

The Fed voted 9 to 3 on Wednesday to hold its benchmark rate at 3.5% to 3.75%. Three regional presidents dissented in favor of a hike, marking the most contested vote under Warsh's tenure.

South Korea remains the epicenter of the regional selloff, with chipmakers hit hardest by volatility. Regulators have capped retail allocation in single-stock leveraged ETFs at 20% to curb amplified losses.

Oil prices also added uncertainty, with Brent crude holding below $90 a barrel after a Wednesday spike on renewed Iranian strikes.