Car production in Thailand rose 4.02% in January from a year earlier to 157,844 units, helped by higher exports, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday.

Britain looks on course to sidestep a long recession after a survey showed a surprise return to growth by businesses this month, raising the likelihood of another Bank of England interest rate hike in March.

Big manufacturers in Japan remained gloomy in February and the service-sector mood slid for a second straight month, a Reuters' poll showed, a sign that the global slowdown is holding back the country's recovery from COVID-induced economic doldrums.

U.S. business activity unexpectedly rebounded in February, reaching its highest level in eight months, according to a survey on Tuesday, which also showed inflation subsiding.

Asian share markets followed Wall Street into the red on Wednesday as surprising strength in global surveys of services stoked fears that central banks would have to lift interest rates yet further and keep them up for longer.

Oil prices crept higher on Wednesday after sharp losses in the prior session as markets awaited more cues on U.S. interest rates and the path of monetary policy, while traders also questioned the outlook for a potential demand rebound this year.