In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on Thursday after the Federal Reserve flagged a long-awaited end to its monetary stimulus next year but delivered an otherwise upbeat economic outlook, which lifted investor spirits. Japan’s Nikkei climbed 1.91 percent and touched a three-week intraday high, while Taiwan’s benchmark gained 0.74 percent. Mainland China shares were mixed though, with energy shares rallying but consumer stocks struggling. An index of blue chips swung between small gains and losses to last be up 0.11 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares added 0.43 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar inched up on Thursday, but trading was choppy as investors awaited monetary policy decisions from the UK and euro zone, just a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve took its own hawkish turn. The greenback climbed a little on the yen for the fourth session in a row to as much as 114.24, while the Australian dollar fell to as low as $0.7146, despite good jobs data, after the central bank chief said he thought it unlikely interest rates will need to rise in 2022. Sterling was little changed on the day at $1.3252, while the euro was steady at $1.1286.

In US Equity Markets stocks gained on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it would end its pandemic-era bond purchases in March as it exits from policies enacted at the start of the health crisis. The Dow was up 0.29 percent at 35,646.5, while the S&P 500 gained 0.31 percent to 4,648.6. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.09 percent to 15,251.62. Most of the 11 major S&P 500 sector indexes were higher, led by a 1.1 percent gain in utilities. Apple Inc rose 0.8 percent and Nvidia rallied 2.6 percent, with both lifting the S&P 500 more than any other stocks.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, rebounding from early losses after U.S. inventory data showed strong consumer demand and as the Federal Reserve said it would end its pandemic-era bond purchases in March to slow rising inflation. Brent crude futures settled up 0.2 percent, to $73.88 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude ended up 14 cents to $70.87 a barrel. Spot gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,777.82 per ounce. Silver rose 0.6 percent to $22.05 per ounce, platinum eased 0.2 percent to $918.56, and palladium was down 1.3 percent to $1,600.44.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Wednesday helped by stronger technology and healthcare stocks, but weakness in the retail and energy sectors capped gains ahead of a Federal Reserve policy announcement. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed 0.3 percent higher to end a five-session losing streak. Technology stocks led gains, adding 1.3 percent after a recent bout of selling while healthcare stocks climbed 1.1 percent. Shares of IAG lost 5.1 percent after the British Airways parent said it was in advanced talks to cancel its purchase of rival Air Europa from Spain’s Globalia.

In Bond Markets after showing a lack of direction for much of the session on Wednesday, treasuries moved lower following the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy announcement. Bond prices climbed off their worst levels going into the close but remained in negative territory. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, rose by 2.5 basis points to 1.463 percent. Beginning in January, the Fed will increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $40 billion per month and of agency mortgage-backed securities by at least $20 billion per month.