In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed on Thursday as investors digested an acknowledgment by the Federal Reserve that inflation had moved nearer its target, and U.S.-China trade talks taking place on Thursday and Friday. South Korea’s Kospi index came under slight pressure, with the benchmark slipping 0.4 percent while the junior Kosdaq edged higher by 0.2 percent. Banks and manufacturing names mostly traded lower, while automakers and technology stocks eked out some gains. Markets in Japan were closed on Thursday. Greater China markets were in negative territory, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index falling 1.66 percent and leading losses in the region.

In Currency Markets the dollar traded below a four-month high against a basket of currencies on Thursday, with the focus shifting to economic data after the Federal Reserve did little to alter market expectations for further interest rate rises this year. On Wednesday, the Fed left its benchmark overnight lending rate in a target range of between 1.50 percent and 1.75 percent as had been widely expected. The euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.1985, getting some respite after setting a near four-month low of $1.1938 on Wednesday. The dollar eased 0.2 percent to 109.65 yen, inching away from a three-month peak of 110.05 yen set on Wednesday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Thursday, weighed down by swelling U.S. crude inventories and record weekly U.S. production that is countering efforts by producer group OPEC to cut supplies and prop up prices. Brent crude oil futures were at $73.19 per barrel, down 17 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $67.82 per barrel. Prices were pulled down by a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday showing U.S. crude inventories jumped by 6.2 million barrels to 435.96 million barrels in the week to April 27, the highest level in 2018.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Wednesday as investors digested a statement from the Federal Reserve, which left interest rates steady and said inflation had “moved close” to its target, while the dollar climbed late against a basket of currencies. The S&P 500 lost 0.72 percent, to 2,635.67 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.42 percent, to 7,100.90. Forecast-beating results from the world’s biggest company, Apple Inc, lifted tech shares, limiting losses in the S&P 500. Apple shares were up 4.4 percent. Apple beat profit and revenue expectations in the first quarter, thanks to robust iPhone sales, and it announced a $100 billion share buy-back.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields for most maturities fell on Wednesday as a quarterly refunding program that aims to finance the country’s massive fiscal deficit came in short of expectations, reducing the pressure on prices caused by the increase in debt supply. Treasury announced a $73-billion refunding package for May, up from the $66 billion in February, with the bulk of the increase coming from short-end maturities. Treasury will sell $31 billion in 3-year notes, $25 billion in 10-year notes, and $17 billion in 30-year bonds. Treasury will raise the size of the 2- and 3-year note auctions by just $1 billion per month in the second quarter, compared with the $2 billion increases in the first.