Thailand's 500 billion baht ($13.53 billion) handout scheme aims to reach the wider population and boost the overall economy through stimulus, a finance official said on Wednesday, responding to central bank recommendations it be targeted towards the poor.

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold at the conclusion of a meeting this week, although an improved outlook for Japanese wages and a sharp decline in the yen may elicit hawkish signals from the central bank.

China defended the veracity of its economic numbers and asserted its military spending was "transparent and reasonable", while dismissing as "typical double standards" comments made this week by the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as falling fuel demand in the U.S., the world's biggest oil user, amid signs of a slowing economy contended with concerns for a widening conflict in the key Middle East producing region.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday as disappointing earnings forecasts from Facebook parent Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) hammered tech shares, while the yen's slump past 155 per dollar for the first time since 1990 raised the spectre of intervention from Tokyo.

Oil prices tread water in Asian trade on Wednesday, cooling after recent volatility as focus shifted from easing tensions in the Middle East to more upcoming cues on the U.S. economy and interest rates.