World stocks uneven as uncertainty weighs ahead of ECB meet

HONG KONG (AP) — World stocks markets traded unevenly Wednesday on investor uncertainty over whether European Central Bank policymakers would follow through on promises to help revive flagging growth at a policy meeting this week.

Many analysts expect the bank to open the stimulus taps further based on hints from ECB chief Mario Draghi and economic data that showed inflation across the 19-country eurozone has slipped under zero.

The ECB could send deposit rates further into negative territory or step up a bond buying program.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.8 percent to close at 16,642.20 while South Korea's Kospi rose 0.3 percent to end at 1,952.95 after recovering early losses.