TOKYO: Tokyo stocks closed lower for a fourth straight day on Wednesday in cautious trade ahead of a key US Federal Reserve decision, with expectations rising for a tougher rate hike.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 1.14 percent, or 303.70 points, to end at 26,326.16, while the broader Topix index fell 1.20 percent, or 22.52 points, to 1,855.93.

Panic has swept through the global market since data on Friday showed US consumer prices are rising at their fastest pace in decades on surging energy and food costs caused by the Ukraine war and supply chain snarls.

Investors are now bracing for the Fed’s interest rate decision later on Wednesday as the central bank struggles to walk a fine line between reining in inflation and trying to keep the economy on track.

“Bargain-hunting is limited ahead of the FOMC results and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference,” Okasan Online Securities said in a note.

The dollar fetched 135.06 yen in Asia, against 135.33 yen in New York late Tuesday, reaching a new 24-year low.

Japan’s Nikkei falls for 3rd day amid US inflation, China COVID worries

In Tokyo trading, chip-making equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron tumbled 1.37 percent to 51,000 yen while Advantest, maker of chip-testing equipment, fell 1.15 percent to 7,730 yen.

Toyota lost 0.71 percent to 2,080 yen while Nissan dropped 1.03 percen tto 533.6 yen. Honda added 0.54 percent to 3,305 yen.