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Currency Markets the dollar drifted on Thursday as impact from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting minutes and supportive comments from a top U.S. official faded, while the Australian dollar fell in the wake of downbeat economic data. The greenback was little changed at 113.300 yen. A relatively big mover in Asia was the Australian dollar, which was last down 0.4 percent at $0.7676. The Aussie took a knock after data showed Australia's capital spending fell at a greater pace than anticipated in the fourth quarter. The euro was effectively flat at $1.0556, having pulled back from a 1-1/2-month low of $1.0494 plumbed the previous day. Sterling was little changed at $1.2447. The dollar index inched up 0.1 percent to 101.340.
Commodities Markets oil futures rose nearly 1 percent on Thursday after data released by an industry group showed a surprise decline in U.S. crude stocks as imports fell, lending support to the view that a global glut is ending. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude April contract added 0.9 percent, to $54.07 a barrel. Brent crude was up 0.8 percent, at $56.32. Crude inventories fell by 884,000 barrels in the week to Feb. 17 to 512.7 million, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.5 million barrels, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed on Wednesday. Spot gold edged down 0.1 percent to $1,236.51 per ounce and spot silver fell 0.4 percent to $17.96 per ounce.
US Equity Markets the S&P 500 ended modestly weaker on Wednesday, holding losses after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting kept alive a potential near-term interest rate hike, while DuPont shares helped the Dow close at an all-time high for a ninth straight session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.16 percent, to 20,775.6. The S&P 500 lost 0.11 percent, to 2,362.82 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.09 percent, to 5,860.63. The Dow was buoyed by a 3.4-percent gain in DuPont shares. The company is set to win antitrust approval from European Union regulators for its $130 billion merger with Dow Chemical. Dow Chemical's shares rose 4 percent.
Bond Markets Japanese government bonds firmed on Thursday, after better-than-expected demand at an auction of 20-year JGBs. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield inched down 0.5 bp to 0.075 percent, while 10-year JGB futures were up 0.13 point at 150.21 in afternoon trade, lifted from their morning session close of 150.16 by the auction results. Superlong JGBs outperformed, with the 20-year yield falling 3 bp to 0.660 percent and the 30-year JGB yield also shedding 3 bp to 0.865 percent.
Asian Equity Markets Japan's Nikkei index fell on Thursday morning as financial stocks weakened after U.S. yields fell on the cautious tone struck in minutes of the latest Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting. The Nikkei fell 0.5 percent to 19,290.02 in midmorning trade. The broader Topix was down 0.4 percent to 1,550.79 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 shed 0.4 percent to 13,907.77. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan edged down almost 0.1 percent having jumped to its highest level on Wednesday since July 2015. Australian stocks retreated 0.2 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was off by 0.46 percent and the Shanghai composite fell 0.39 percent.
