PHOTO: YEN MENG JIIN, BT[SINGAPORE] The US Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates, accompanied by hawkish messaging, means inflation will remain closely watched while Asia’s tech sectors will have to contend with higher-for-longer rates, say analysts. While central banks in Asia are likely to take divergent monetary paths independent of the Fed, analysts believe the region’s crucial tech sectors could take a hit from higher rates. James Ooi, market strategist at Tiger Brokers, warned that sustained higher rates risk pressuring capital expenditure. Asia’s central banks setting their own pathsAsia’s central banks are increasingly charting their own courses based on other macroeconomic factors. “We’ve seen Asian central banks deliver easing cycles ahead of the Fed post-pandemic and alternatively begin hiking while the Fed’s on hold,” he added.