In European Equity Markets the pan-European STOXX 600 ended 0.35 percent higher, with sectors and major bourses mostly positive. The FTSE 100 finished the day 0.5 percent higher while the main equity markets in Germany and France also made solid gains. H&M posted its latest earnings update, which saw pretax profit for the third quarter miss expectations. Shares of the Swedish retailer, however, jumped more than 11 percent, making it the top performer in Europe, after it reassured investors that it wouldn’t need to cut costs further in order to shift unsold clothing.

In Currency Markets the US dollar rose to a more than one-week high against a basket of other major currencies on Thursday, boosted by the Federal Reserve’s outlook for more rate hikes beyond this year as well as a weakening of the euro on worries about the Italian budget. The euro fell 0.4 percent to $1.1690, after falling to $1.1671, its weakest since Sept. 20. On Wednesday, the Fed raised rates for the third time in 2018, as expected. The central bank still foresees another rate hike in December, three more next year, and one increase in 2020.

In Commodities Markets oil edged higher on Thursday, driven by the prospect of a shortfall in global supply once U.S. sanctions against major crude exporter Iran come into force in just five weeks’ time. U.S. President Donald Trump this week demanded that OPEC raise production to prevent further price rises ahead of key congressional elections in early November.  The most-active December Brent crude futures contract was last up 23 cents at $81.02 a barrel, off the high for the day at $81.90 but still within sight of Tuesday’s four-year high of $82.55.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday, helped by high-flying shares of Apple and Amazon, as well as the Federal Reserve’s confidence in the strength of the economy as it raised rates for the third time this year. Apple rose 2.2 percent and was the biggest boost to the three main indexes after JPMorgan started coverage of the stock with an “overweight” rating, citing the iPhone maker’s quicker-than-expected move to a services business. The S&P 500 was up 16.05 points, or 0.55 percent, at 2,922.02 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 66.92 points, or 0.84 percent, at 8,057.29.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Thursday, with the yield curve hovering at its flattest levels in more than a week, as investors reduced some bond holdings to make room for $31 billion of seven-year government note supply. The 30-year yield edged up 0.2 basis point to 3.193 percent after hitting a four-month peak of 3.249 percent on Tuesday. Two-year yields gained 0.4 basis point to 2.831 percent after touching 2.847 percent on Tuesday, which was last seen in June 2008.