Global stock markets were also firmly higher, with major indexes across Europe including the CAC 40 in France and the DAX in Germany up by more than 2%. "We wouldn't be surprised if we see our market get sold off towards the close as investors look to close their positions ahead of the USA interest rate decision", said the chief executive of Australian Stock Report, Anthony D'Paul. ASIA'S DAY: Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index fell 1.7 percent to 18,565.90 as the yen rose against the USA dollar. The Federal Reserve is expected later Wednesday to raise borrowing costs at its policy meeting, ending months of speculation and uncertainty on global markets. People are reflected on an electronic stock board along with domestic stock prices at a securities firm in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. Total and Royal Dutch Shell added at least 3.2pc as oil prices jumped. Please see our terms of service for more information. Euro/dollar: UP to $1.0944 from $1.0930 late Monday. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz enters Tuesday's Republican presidential debate with a burst of momentum, a robust campaign infrastructure, and a target on his back. Crude oil fell in Asian trade on Wednesday, snapping gains that pulled prices back from testing 11-year lows, as investors awaited the outcome of a Federal Reserve meeting, where interest rates are likely to be raised. The Japanese gauge's average rally over the last four periods of higher rates is nearly twice as much as the advance for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and beat a gauge of Asian stocks excluding Japan. Exporters fell with auto-makers' shares closing 2.6% lower after opening higher following the news that China's factory output rose to a five-month high in November. US stocks are slipping Monday as the market comes off its biggest weekly decline since the summer. Overall prices were unchanged from past year because food and energy prices are weak, but "core inflation", which leaves out energy and food, rose 0.2 percent. S&P 500 futures were up 0.3 percent. Fed Chair Janet Yellen and other officials at the USA central bank have signaled well in advance that they are likely to raise rates for the first time in almost a decade. The decision highlights the world economy's two-speed nature. The U.S. dollar was trading at C$1.3715, down 0.23 of a cent. The greenback held onto gains against the euro, yen and New Zealand dollar, as traders price in 76 percent odds of the Fed pulling the trigger on a rate hike this session. "Having dropped by seven percent or more over the past two weeks, markets appear to have fully discounted the upcoming Fed rate hike", she said. Its stock has lost more than half its value since reaching a record high in August as Valeant's business model and pricing came under close scrutiny from industry analysts and members of Congress. JPMorgan Chase rose $2.26, or 3.5 percent, to $66.53 and Wells Fargo gained $1.74, or 3.3 percent, to $54.95. PopHerald.com http://popherald.com/2015/12/16/asian-stocks-rise-strongly-as-investors-count-down-to-fed.html

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