- As investors continued to be uncertain about the path of monetary policy and corporate results, US equity-index futures showed moderate increases. After the Bank of Japan maintained its monetary policy, the yen declined in value against the dollar.
- After a turbulent session in New York on Tuesday due to discrepant reports from wall street banks, contracts on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 indices were each 0.2% higher. Despite increases versus the yen, a measure of the dollar's strength declined. Treasury prices rose after the BoJ unanimously decided to keep its yield curve management scheme in place. In anticipation of increased demand from China, West Texas Intermediate oil futures are poised for their longest winning streak in four years.
- Investors are concentrating on growth and inflation indicators to determine precisely when the Federal Reserve and other major central banks will stop raising interest rates. Those who think monetary easing would need to start this year were encouraged by news showing that Taiwan's economy contracted in the fourth quarter, UK inflation was decreasing, and the US earnings reporting season had a more subdued start.
