Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday, weighed by Wall Streets weak finish and as the U.S. Federal Reserves policy statement provided few fresh cues. In Tokyo, Sanyo Electric tumbled on a report that Panasonic Corp. had bought a stake in the firm at a large discount.

The Federal Open Market Committee left its target interest rate unchanged and maintained its language suggesting ultra-low rates would be maintained for an extended period. The result was widely expected, and a slight positive for ...

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