In European Equity Markets the pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 index closed 0.25 percent up. Europe’s personal and household goods sector led the gains, up more than 1.7 percent amid earnings news by the mid-afternoon. France’s LVMH was the top sectoral performer after the Paris-listed stock reported strong annual results in the final three months of 2018. Shares of the company jumped nearly 7 percent. Switzerland’s Lonza Group were down 7.3 percent, after the drug ingredients maker announced CEO Richard Ridinger would retire in March.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar edged higher on Wednesday, bolstered by data showing strong U.S. private sector jobs growth for January, but gains were capped on caution ahead of the Federal Reserve’s statement at the conclusion of its policy meeting later in the session. Payrolls processor ADP reported that the U.S. private sector added 213,000 jobs in January. That beat forecasts for gains of 178,000, but the monthly total was lower than job gains of 271,000 in December. The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.1412. The European Central Bank is expected to hold off tightening until year end.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday, boosted by concerns about supply disruptions following U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry but pegged back by uncertainty over the global economy. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $54.03 per barrel, up 72 cents or 1.35 percent. International Brent crude oil futures were at $61.96 per barrel, up 64 cents or a little over 1 percent. Washington announced export sanctions against Petroleos de Venezuela SA on Monday, limiting transactions between U.S. companies and the state-owned oil firm.

In US Equity Markets stocks jumped on Wednesday, as relief after Apple Inc’s earnings and an upbeat report from Boeing Co eased nerves as investors waited for updates from the Federal Reserve and U.S.-China trade talks. The iPhone maker’s shares rose 4.3 percent after the company reported a sharp growth in services business and CEO Tim Cook said trade tensions between the United States and China were easing. The S&P 500 was up 0.53 percent, at 2,653.87 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.86 percent, at 7,089.08. Seven of the 11 major S&P sectors were higher.

In Bond Markets U.S. government bond yields rose on Wednesday morning after data showed private sector jobs increased more than expected in January, and ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy statement that is expected to leave interest rates unchanged. The benchmark 10-year government note yield was last up nearly a basis point at 2.72 percent. The two-year yield , which reflects market expectations of interest rate increases, was up 0.8 basis point at 2.58 percent. The 30-year yield was up less than half a basis point at 3.04 percent.