In Asian Equity Markets indices were mixed in morning trade. South Korea’s Kospi recovered from its earlier declined to gain 0.18% in morning trade, as shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics rose 0.11% and chipmaker SK Hynix soared 2.53%. The ASX 200 in Australia, on the other hand, declined 0.62% as the sectors traded mixed. Markets in China and Japan are closed for holidays.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar took a breather in Asia on Thursday after recovering from a brief spill overnight when markets were whipsawed by mixed messages on policy from the Federal Reserve. Liquidity was lacking with both Japan and China on holiday and little in the way of major economic data in the diary. The break was welcome after a volatile session overnight. The euro was back at $1.1200, after reaching as high as $1.1265, and the dollar steadied at 111.44 yen from a low of 111.03.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Thursday, pulled down by record U.S. crude production that led to a surge in stockpiles. Outside the United States, however, oil markets remained tense as exemptions to U.S. sanctions on Iran expired, a political crisis in Venezuela escalates, and as producer club OPEC keeps withholding supply. Spot Brent crude oil futures were at $71.91 per barrel, 27 cents, or 0.4 percent, below their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $63.41 per barrel.

In US Equity Markets indices lost ground on Wednesday, snapping a three-day winning streak after the U.S. Federal Reserve held rates steady as expected but comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell cast doubt on whether the central bank’s next move would be a rate cut. The S&P 500 lost 0.75%, to 2,923.73 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.57%, to 8,049.64. Earlier, the S&P 500 hit a record high as shares of Apple Inc rose, a day after the company reported quarterly results that beat Wall Street estimates despite a record drop in iPhone revenue.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said a decline in inflation this year could be due to transitory factors, after the U.S. central bank’s meeting statement struck a cautious tone on inflation. Benchmark 10-year note yields gained to 2.51 percent, after initially dropping to 2.46 percent, the lowest since April 1. The yield curve between two-year and 10-year notes flattened to 21 basis points after initially expanding to 25 basis points, the steepest level since November 28.