Asian stocks are mostly lower even as investors wager that the Federal Reserve will come ahead with a cut to interest rates, while Australia's benchmark hit a new record. U.S. futures fell and oil prices were little changed. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Tuesday to top its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped 1.8% a day after setting its own record, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%. A report showed sales at U.S. retailers held firmer than expected, but that didn't dampen expectations for coming cuts to interest rates.
