(Repeats to additional subscribers, no changes to text) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Snapshot at: 07:30 / 2030 GMT ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Markets
NetChng
NetChng S&P/ASX 200
5,119.03 +7.60 NZSX 50
6,562.96 -14.86 DJIA
17,325.76 +74.23 Nikkei
16,974.45 -142.62 NASDAQ
4,763.97 +35.30 FTSE
6,175.49 +35.52 S&P 500
2,027.22 +11.29 Hang Seng
20,257.70 -31.07 SPI 200 Fut
5,162.00 +36.00 STI
2,844.21 +4.77 SSEC
2,870.48 +6.11 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Bonds
NetChg
NetChg AU 10 YR Bond
2.619 -0.024 US 10 YR Bond
1.913 -0.046 NZ 10 YR Bond
3.060 -0.080 US 30 YR Bond
2.712 -0.009 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currencies
1700GMT
1700GMT AUD US$
0.7553 0.7458 NZD US$
0.6733 0.6607 EUR US$
1.1224 1.1090 Yen US$
112.56 113.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Commodities Gold (Lon)
1,228.50
Silver (Lon)
15.60 Gold (NY)
1,232.00
Light Crude
38.53 TRJCRB Index
173.76 +2.69 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Overnight market action with latest New York figures.
EQUITIES
NEW YORK - The S&P 500 closed at its highest level of the year on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and signaled fewer rate hikes in coming months.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 74.78 points, or 0.43 percent, to 17,326.31, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 11.34 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,027.27 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 35.30 points, or 0.75 percent, to 4,763.97.
For a full report, double click on .N
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LONDON - Britain's top share index rose on Wednesday as oil and gas stocks and housebuilders rallied on the back of proposals in UK finance minister George Osborne's annual budget statement.
Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE was up 0.6 percent at 6,175.49 points at its close, outperforming the broader European market.
For a full report, double click on .L
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TOKYO - Japanese stocks fell on Wednesday as investors reduced their holdings ahead of the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting, while Sharp Corp tumbled after news that its takeover deal with Foxconn may not be signed this week.
The Nikkei share average .N225 fell 0.8 percent to 16,974.45.
The broader Topix .TOPX slipped 0.8 percent to 1,360.50 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 .JPXNK400 declined 0.9 percent to 12,291.97.
For a full report, double click on .T
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SYDNEY - Australian shares are set to open firmer on Thursday, tracking gains on Wall Street after the U.S. Federal Reserve flagged it would raise rates more slowly than expected this year citing global volatility.
Pointing to a higher opening, local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.7 percent to 5,162.0 to sit at a 43-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark inched up 0.15 percent on Wednesday.
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE
NEW YORK - The dollar fell sharply against major currencies after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged but reduced its expectations for interest rate hikes in 2016 to two from four on Wednesday.
In a statement many investors regarded as more accommodating for looser policy than expected, the Fed noted that moderate U.S. economic growth and "strong job gains" would allow it to resume tightening monetary policy this year but also said the country continues to face risks from an uncertain global economy.
The dollar index .DXY , which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, fell to a session low of 95.980 after the statement's release, sliding almost 1 percent in just 11 minutes.
For a full report, double click on USD/
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TREASURIES
NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields fell across the board on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve, as expected, held interest rates steady while revising its outlook for interest rate increases to just two by the end of the year.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR were last up 4/32 in price for a yield of 1.948 percent, down from 1.973 percent late on Tuesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR was, however, down 16/32 in price, yielding 2.746 percent, up from 2.744 percent on Tuesday.
For a full report, double click on US/
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COMMODITIES
GOLD
NEW YORK - Gold rallied 2 percent to $1,260 an ounce on Wednesday, turning higher after the Federal Reserve indicated that the United States continues to face risks from an uncertain global economy, pressuring the dollar.
Spot gold XAU= jumped 2.3 percent to $1,260.61 an ounce at 3:14 p.m. EDT (1914 GMT), after trading down as much as 0.4 percent to $1,226.87 prior to the statement. U.S. gold futures GCv1 for April delivery settled down 0.1 percent at $1,229.80 an ounce prior to the statement.
For a full report, double click on GOL/
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BASE METALS
LONDON - Copper fell on Wednesday in cautious trade ahead of the outcome of a Federal Reserve policy meeting, which is expected to leave interest rates on hold but signal how quickly the bank may tighten this year.
Benchmark copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange closed down 0.2 percent at $4,935 a tonne in official trade, having moved in a tight range of around 50 cents.
For a full report, double click on MET/L
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OIL
NEW YORK - U.S. oil prices jumped almost 6 percent on Wednesday, erasing losses of the past two days, after major producers firmed up plans to meet in Qatar to discuss an output freeze and U.S. crude stockpiles grew less than expected.
U.S. crude CLc1 settled up $2.12, or 5.8 percent, at $38.46 a barrel. It had fallen 5 percent in the past two sessions.
Brent crude LCOc1 finished up $1.59, or 4 percent, at $40.33 a barrel.
For a full report, double click on O/R
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