Stock market today: Asian stocks fall after a torrent of profit reports leaves Wall Street mixed [Video]

BANGKOK – Asian stocks fell on Wednesday as markets digested Japanese and Australian business data, after U.S. stocks held relatively steady as earnings reporting season ramped up for big companies.

U.S. futures fell while oil prices were higher.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 1.1% to 39,154.85, with the Japanese yen trading at its highest level in months ahead of a Bank of Japan policy decision next week.

The U.S. dollar was trading over 162 yen earlier this month but the Japanese currency has strengthened in recent days after officials intervened to staunch the yen’s decline. Expectations that the BOJ may raise its near-zero interest rate, and that the Federal Reserve may in turn cut rates, have helped support the yen, which has languished as the gap between U.S. rates and those in Japan widened.

On Wednesday, the dollar was trading at 154.68 yen, down from 155.59 yen late Tuesday.

A business survey released on Wednesday showed Japan’s factory activity …