April 3 (Reuters) - Australian shares were likely to open lower on Wednesday, as prospects of an interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve in the middle of this year dwindled after recent solid U.S. economic reports. The local share price index futures fell 0.4%, a 19.1-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark fell 0.1%...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rising Treasury yields could provide the latest test for a rally that has made U.S. stocks increasingly expensive while taking them to fresh record highs. Expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year helped the S&P 500 notch a 10% gain in the first quarter, even as Treasury yields have accelerated their advance...

With U.S. stock futures trading lower this morning on Wednesday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows: Wall Street expects Acuity Brands, Inc. ( AYI ) to report quarterly earnings at $3.25 per share on revenue of $907.75 million before the opening bell, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Acuity Brands ( AYI )...

(Updates with closing prices) By Kevin Buckland TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average dropped 1% on Wednesday, weighed down by a fall in heavyweight Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ), owner of the Uniqlo store chain, and overnight declines on Wall Street. Tech stocks tracked a slide among U.S. peers, but a powerful quake that rocked Taiwan had...