- As investors studied China inflation statistics for indications of whether the pricing pressures sapping the global economy are peaking, Asian equities were firm Wednesday and US equity futures gained.
- In China and Hong Kong, stocks rose, but in Japan, stocks were neutral. A Wall Street increase on Tuesday provided some relief from this year's equities sell-off, which has been spurred by worries of a recession as borrowing costs rise.
- As investors digested Fed statements, government yields were little moved and a dollar measure remained near its highest level since 2020.
- After losing approximately 8% this week, oil was trading around $100 per barrel. Crude is being buffeted by growth fears fuelled by China's Covid lockdowns.