Asian stock indices opened the third session of the week mostly higher with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea higher, while China and Hong Kong lost ground, following earlier Asian data and ahead of Federal Reserve's policy decisions today. 

Earlier New Zealand data showed the current account surplus down to 1.83 billion New Zealand dollars from 1.9 billion in the first quarter. 

From Japan, the trade surplus widened to 248.3 billion yen from 11.6 billion in July, while the seasonally-adjusted reading showed a surplus of 0.35 trillion yen, down from 0.04 trillion in July. 

The Federal Reserve is holding its policy meeting today through satellite, expected to maintain rates at near zero while revealing three-year estimates for inflation, unemployment, and growth. 

Japan's TOPEX rose 0.33%, while Nikkei 225 rose 0.14% to 23,487. 

China's CSI 300 inched down 0.22%, while Shanghai lost 0.02% to 3,295. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng inched down 0.05%, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.12% to 2,446. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.52%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.98% to 5,952. 

Gold futures tilted higher in Asian trade off August 26 lows while the dollar index lost ground, ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decisions today.

As of 05:04 GMT, gold futures due in December rose 0.31% to $1,967 an ounce, while the dollar index fell 0.09% to 93.04. 

From the US, retail sales are expected up 1.1% in August, slowing from 7.5% in July, while core sales are expected up 1%. 

US wholesale inventories are expected up 0.2%, improving from a 1.1% tumble in June. 

Finally, the Federal Reserve will hold its policy meeting today through satellite, expected to maintain rates at near zero while revealing three-year estimates for inflation, unemployment, and growth. 

USD/JPY titled lower in Asian trade to August 28 lows following earlier Japanese data and ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decisions. 

As of 06:50 GMT, USD/JPY fell 0.098% to 105.35, with a three-week low at 105.25. 

From Japan, the trade surplus widened to 248.3 billion yen from 11.6 billion in July, while the seasonally-adjusted reading showed a surplus of 0.35 trillion yen, down from 0.04 trillion in July. 

From the US, retail sales are expected up 1.1% in August, slowing from 7.5% in July, while core sales are expected up 1%. 

US wholesale inventories are expected up 0.2%, improving from a 1.1% tumble in June. 

Finally, the Federal Reserve will hold its policy meeting today through satellite, expected to maintain rates at near zero while revealing three-year estimates for inflation, unemployment, and growth. 

The British pound rose against the US dollar on Tuesday, after the release of strong jobs data that exceeded analysts' forecasts.

Data showed today that the unemployment claims change reached 73.7,000, beating forecasts of 99.5,000.

The average earnings index fell 1% during August, which is better than forecasts of a drop by 1.3%.

The UK's unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, compared to the previous reading of 3.9%.

The UK and other European countries are still vulnerable to a second wave of coronavirus infections, especially amid the lack of an effective and safe vaccine to eliminate the pandemic.

As of 22:02 GMT, GBP/USD rose 0.3% to 1.2889, after hitting a day high of 1.2926, and a low of 1.2816.