In Asian Equity Markets stocks fell on Thursday after minutes from the Fed’s early May meeting showed a majority backing half-percentage-point rate hikes in June and July, and as persistent concerns over global growth sapped confidence. Chinese blue-chips fell 1.11 percent despite another drop in daily COVID-19 cases in the country, where lockdowns aimed at curbing the spread of the virus threaten to undermine recent economic support measures. Australian shares lost 0.47 percent while Japan’s Nikkei stock index reversed earlier gains to fall 0.13 percent. Seoul’s Kospi was 0.25 percent higher.

In Currency Markets the dollar hovered near a one-month low on Thursday as minutes from the Federal Reserve’s May meeting confirmed the potential for a pause in rate hikes after likely further increases in June and July. The dollar index edged 0.1 percent higher to 102.15 as a decline in Asian equities fostered demand for safe havens like the greenback. The dollar added 0.08 percent to 127.425 yen, while the euro was about flat at $1.0679. Sterling lost 0.17 percent to $1.25615. The risk-sensitive Aussie sank 0.25 percent to $0.70695. The New Zealand dollar fell 0.31 percent to $0.6458.

In US Equity Markets stocks closed higher Wednesday, boosted after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy meeting showed policymakers unanimously felt the U.S. economy was very strong as they grappled with reining in inflation without triggering a recession. The Dow rose 0.6 percent, to 32,120.28, the S&P 500 gained 0.95 percent, to 3,978.73 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.51 percent, to 11,434.74. Shares of Nvidia Corp fell more than 8 percent in after-hours trading after the company’s second quarter revenue forecast missed expectations.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Wednesday, buoyed by tight supplies and as U.S. refiners drove processing activity to their highest level since before the coronavirus pandemic started. Brent crude futures for July settled up 47 cents to $114.03 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July delivery ended up 56 cents to $110.33 a barrel. Spot gold was down 1.1 percent at $1,846.27 per ounce. Spot silver fell 1 percent to $21.86 per ounce, platinum shed 0.9 percent to $945.52 and palladium was down 0.2 percent at $2,003.29.

In European Equity Markets stocks rose on Wednesday, lifted by resource-linked stocks and banks, with investors watching for updates from central banks on monetary policy tightening amid rising concerns of an economic slowdown. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.6 percent. Banks, which benefit when interest rates rise, rose 1.1 percent to hit a fresh one-month high and were among the biggest boosts to the index. Meanwhile, the utilities sector rose 2.0 percent as power generators recovered from a plunge spurred by worries about a windfall tax.

In Bond Markets benchmark U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve showed policymakers agreed to hike interest rates by a half-percentage point to combat inflation and said a “very strong” economy may require reducing monetary supply. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell 1.5 basis points to 2.745 percent after falling in the morning to 2.708 percent, a low last seen March 14. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down 0.4 basis points to 2.968 percent.