In Asian Equity Markets stocks fell to their lowest levels this year and the dollar hit 10-month highs on Thursday as a double-whammy of worries about global growth and an end to central bank support drove nervous investors toward safety. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 1.5 percent. The Nikkei index fell 0.69 percent to 27,394.43. Selling pressure in stock markets extended from Chinese tech shares to semiconductors and miners. The Hang Seng tech index fell 1.8 percent to its lowest level since its launch last year. The broader Hang Seng lost 1.6 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar rose to a nine-month high against its major peers on Thursday, on expectations that the Federal Reserve will start tapering its huge stimulus this year. The dollar index climbed as high as 93.502, its strongest since Nov. 5, before trading 0.26 percent higher at 93.464. The euro fell as low as $1.16655 for the first time since Nov. 4, while the Aussie sank to $0.7198, a level not seen since Nov. 5, and the kiwi slid to $0.68465, the weakest since Nov. 13. The greenback rose as high as 110.225 yen. Sterling touched a four-week low of $1.3712.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Wednesday after the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting last month showed officials felt the employment benchmark for decreasing support for the economy “could be reached this year.” The Dow fell 0.33 percent, to 35,225.36, the S&P 500 lost 0.25 percent, to 4,436.81 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.07 percent, to 14,666.35. In company news, shares of Lowe’s Cos Inc jumped after the home improvement chain’s quarterly report. Lowe’s said professional builders and handymen were rushing back to its stores, boosting sales.

In Commodities Markets gold turned positive after the release of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s July policy meeting minutes on Wednesday, although a firm dollar limited any safe haven inflows into bullion in response to the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant. Spot gold was up 0.1 percent at $1,786.76 per ounce. Elsewhere, silver fell 0.5 percent to $23.51 per ounce, platinum rose 0.4 percent to $1,001, and palladium shed 2.7 percent to $2,422.85. Brent crude settled 1.2 percent lower at $68.23 a barrel, while U.S. crude fell 1.1 percent at $65.46 per barrel.

In European Equity Markets stocks held steady on Wednesday as investors favoured utilities and healthcare shares over economically sensitive sectors on rising concerns over a spike in global COVID-19 cases. The pan-European STOXX 600 index inched up just 0.1 percent, with automakers and miners the biggest drags. The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7 percent. Danish brewer Carlsberg rose 2.3 percent after it lifted its full-year earnings outlook and said beer volumes in key markets China and Russia had risen to “well above” pre-pandemic levels.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July meeting showed that Fed officials felt the employment benchmark for decreasing support for the economy “could be reached this year,” but had not yet been satisfied. Benchmark 10-year notes fell to 1.273 percent, after rising to a session high of 1.300 percent before the minutes were released. The Treasury saw strong demand for a $27 billion sale of 20-year bonds. The debt sold at a high yield of 1.850 percent, less than a basis point lower than where the bonds had traded before the auction.