Wayne Cole

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Shares markets rose on Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve made an orderly start to dismantle its huge stimulus program. However, longer-dated bond yields were pushed up by doubts over the inflation outlook.

The Bank of England is now in focus, as it may trigger a rate rise cycle later today with unknown implications for the global debt market.

Equity investors are content for now that the Fed is not in a hurry to end its policy punch bowl. Nasdaq futures increased 0.3%, a new record. It would mark the ninth consecutive session of gains if it is sustained.

The index edged up 0.1% while climbing 1.1% to its highest point in one month.

MSCI’s largest index of Asia-Pacific shares, outside Japan, rose 0.3%. This index is being affected by an increase in coronavirus-related cases in China. It threatens to reduce consumer spending in an already weak economy.

Positive readings regarding U.S. jobs and services supported the positive mood.

According to expectations, the Fed will reduce bond buying by $15 Billion per week beginning this month. It also leaves open the possibility of increasing or decreasing the pace as required.

Jerome Powell, Fed Chair did seem slightly less certain inflationary forces would prove temporary enough to reach longer-term bond and bear steepen yield curve.[US/]

Jan Nevruzi from NatWest Markets, analyst said: “Overall,” he stated that he didn’t obtain anything which should have meant higher market prices for hikes.

Fed futures suggest a Fed Futures hike to 0.25% June, and another up to 0.5% until 2022.

Nevruzi added that, “Whilst not an extremely-dovish meeting the result was still far from some of those more spectacular hawkish surprises seen recenty from the Bank of Canada.”

By abruptly shifting their policies, the Australian and Canadian central banks caused chaos in bond markets over the past couple of weeks.

The central bank of Poland surprised everyone overnight with an aggressive increase, escalating tensions at the BoE meeting. This could lead to a close call.

Sterling was steady at $1.3685 after falling to $1.3605 overnight.

Although the dollar fell to $93.846, speculators made profits from long positions. However, the upward trend of the last five months was not halted. The yen was steady at 114.07.

Although the euro gained modestly to $1.16155, it remains limited by the expectation that the European Central Bank would trail the Fed in tightening.

Commodities saw the increase in bond yields cause gold to drop around $1776 per ounce. [GOL/]

As U.S. stocks grew, oil prices fell and Iran announced that it would resume talks to reach a new nuclear agreement. Despite increasing pressure on OPEC+, signs suggest that the group will continue with current plans. [O/R]

After falling by more than 4 percent overnight, the price of a barrel was at $81.99, with a further 49 cents loss to $80.37.