Night session open: China's main futures contracts were mostly lower. Ethylene glycol (EG) fell about 4%; methanol and propylene dropped more than 2%; benzene declined nearly 2%. Low-sulfur fuel oil (LU), short fiber, PET bottle flake and paraxylene slid over 1%. On the upside, rapeseed meal rose about 2%; soybean No.2 gained over 1%; soybean meal and Shanghai zinc were up nearly 1%.

With markets seeking clues on the BOJ's next rate hike, attention will center on remarks by a BOJ deputy governor due Thursday. SMBC Nikko Securities strategist Ataru Okumura said a single speech has limited ability to steer market expectations, but traders will watch how firmly he frames inflation control. Okumura added that while the bond market firmly prices an earlier BOJ hike, investors doubt the bank can push rates above a restrictive 2% threshold, so the future interest-rate path will be the key market focus.

Iran's armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said hostile media outlets could be treated as military targets, naming the BBC and Iran International and alleging they have direct links to Israel's Mossad, the US CIA and other hostile intelligence agencies, Fars News reported via Al Jazeera.