Key Asian markets ended mixed today. Japan's NIKKEI-225 gained 0.1 per cent, South Korea's KOSPI advanced 0.4 percent, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.7 per cent ahead of upcoming economic data to be released tomorrow. Singapore's Straits Times ended flat. But Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.8 per cent.

European shares were trading lower in intra-day trade after consumer prices hit a record in France and accelerated in Spain, adding to expectations that major central banks will need to continue tightening policy. 

London's FTSE-100 declined 0.6 per cent, France's CAC dipped 0.4 per cent after France's European Union-harmonised consumer prices rose to a record 7.2% in February; And Germany's DAX was down 0.3 percent when reports last came in.

Germany's 10-year yield, the benchmark for the euro area, rose 7 basis points (bps) to 2.66%, its highest since July 2011. Benchmark 10-year yields in France and Spain also hit multi-year highs.