In Asian Equity Markets stocks were mostly down on Thursday morning as investors assessed signals from corporate earnings. Europe’s geopolitical risks remain a focus for investors. Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched down 0.06 percent. The Bank of Japan is due to release its interest rate decision on Thursday. South Korea’s KOSPI was up 0.43 percent. In Australia, the ASX 200 inched down 0.02 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.04 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite was down 0.42 percent while the Shenzhen Component edged down 0.16 percent.

In Currency Markets the euro rebounded on Thursday, rising back toward a two-week high to the dollar, as Russian gas began to flow through a key pipeline again, but investors were cautious ahead of an expected European Central Bank interest rate hike later in the day. The euro gained 0.42 percent to $1.02215, clawing back most of its sizeable retreat from Wednesday, when it hit an intraday peak of $1.0273, the highest since July 6. The dollar was little changed at 138.19 yen, consolidating below the 24-year high at 139.38 seen one week ago.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Wednesday with the tech-heavy Nasdaq booking a 1.6 percent gain on positive earnings signals with a wary eye on inflation and more interest rate hikes by the Fed. The Dow rose 0.15 percent, to 31,874.84, the S&P 500 gained 0.59 percent, to 3,959.9 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.58 percent, to 11,897.65. Seven of the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500 gained ground, with consumer discretionary and information technology posting the biggest gains. Tesla Inc rose 2 percent in extended trading after reporting a rise in quarterly profit after the bell.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Wednesday, after U.S. government data showed lower gasoline demand during the peak summer driving season and as interest rate hikes by central banks to fight inflation fed fears the economy could slow, cutting energy demand. Brent crude prices for September fell 43 cents to settle at $106.92 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude for August fell $1.96 to settle at $102.26 a barrel. Spot gold was down 0.6 percent at $1,700.23 per ounce. Spot silver fell 0.3 percent to $18.67 per ounce, while platinum shed 2 percent to $857.00. Palladium fell 0.6 percent to $$1,864.63.

In European Equity Markets stocks snapped a three-day winning streak on Wednesday on jitters around Russian gas supplies to the continent, while Italian shares slid amid a political crisis surrounding Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose as much as 0.5 percent before erasing gains to end 0.2 percent lower. Among single stocks, HelloFresh lost 9.4 percent after the German meal-kit maker reduced its 2022 outlook, citing inflation, waning consumer confidence and the Ukraine war. read more Volvo Cars fell 5.2 percent after it flagged a potential dip in retail sales this year.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields were mixed on Wednesday, moving within narrow ranges, as bond investors balanced their positions ahead of another Federal Reserve meeting next week that could signal more hefty rate increases to scupper persistently strong inflation. In afternoon trading, the benchmark U.S. 10-year yield rose nearly 2 bps to 3.0377 percent. The U.S. 20-year yield fell to 3.4301 percent, as its price rose, helped a bit by a fairly decent auction. The U.S. two-year yield rose 1.7 bps to 3.248 percent. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down 1.8 bps at 3.16 percent.