- As traders evaluated geopolitical concerns and the expected route for Federal Reserve interest-rate rises, US equities futures dipped and Asian stocks were divided.
- Shares fell in Japan, rose in South Korea, and varied in Hong Kong, where rumours suggest authorities are planning widespread testing to combat Covid. In the US, contracts fell after the S&P 500 gained a little amount.
- Treasury yields increased, the currency remained stable, and gold maintained its current rally. The US rejection of Russia's assertions of a troop pullback from Ukraine's border was being digested by traders. The Kremlin has denied any invasion intentions on numerous occasions.
- Oil prices fell amid hints that an agreement on Iran's nuclear programme is nearing completion, potentially paving the way for the restart of formal exports from the Persian Gulf nation. Supply concerns arising from Russia's troop build-up have also thrown crude into a tailspin recently.
- Officials concluded that they would begin raising rates shortly and were on the lookout for sustained inflation that would support faster tightening, according to the most recent Fed minutes. On the balance-sheet runoff plans, there were little fresh specifics.
