The document also confirmed that the Fed does not plan to abandon the asset buyback program in the near future. The meeting participants said it will take some time to make progress towards the goals of full employment and price stability. Until this progress is made, the volume of asset repurchases should remain at least at the current level.

The Japanese Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.23% by 8:18 GMT + 2.

Japan's current account surplus narrowed to 2.917 trillion yen in February from 3.061 trillion yen in the same month last year. Analysts had forecast an average of 1.966 trillion yen. Exports fell 4% while imports jumped 11.8%.

Meanwhile, the consumer confidence index in the country in March rose to 36.1 points compared to 33.8 points a month earlier. This is the highest level in the last thirteen months.

Among the leaders in the fall in quotations are shares of Oki Electric Industry Co. (-4%), as well as representatives of the financial industry Chiba Bank (-3.9%), Shinsei Bank (-3.2%) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (-3.1%).

Consumer electronics maker Sony dropped 2.2%, investment technology SoftBank Group sank 0.1%, and chip maker Advantest fell 3.2%.

Meanwhile, the capitalization of Asia's largest apparel retailer Fast Retailing rose 1.4%, Japan Exchange Group Inc. increased by 1.8%.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite Index by 8:23 GMT + 2 increased by 0.25%, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong rose by 0.8%.

The most significant increase in the price of Techtronic Industries Co. shares during trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. (+ 5.5%), insurer AIA Group (+ 4.7%), semiconductor manufacturer AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. (+ 3.9%), China Mengniu Dairy Co., the largest dairy producer in the country. (+ 3.3%), brewery Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd. (+ 2.9%) and online retailer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (+ 2%).

In addition, shares of the automaker Geely Automobile Holdings (+ 2%), chip maker Sunny Optical Technology Group Co. (+ 2%), consumer electronics manufacturer Xiaomi Corp. (+ 0.2%).

At the same time, the quotations of shares of the oil producer CNOOC fell 3%, the Internet giant Tencent Holdings fell 0.6%.

South Korean Kospi index added 0.15% by 8:39 GMT.

Market value of one of the world's largest chipmakers Samsung (KS: 005930) Electronics Co. fell 1.4%, auto maker Hyundai Motor rose 0.7%.

Australian S & P / ASX 200 added 0.9% by 8:39 GMT + 2 and approached the maximum level in 14 months.

Capitalization of the world's largest mining companies BHP and Rio Tinto increased by 1.8% and 1.3%, respectively, on the back of higher iron ore prices.