In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 and Topix in Japan saw gains of 1.28 percent and 1.35 percent, respectively, as shares of Japanese conglomerate Softbank Group jumped more than 4.7 percent. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.25 percent. Shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics rose 0.65 percent despite the company warning of weaker earnings in 2019 following a 29 percent decline in its fourth quarter operating profit. The Shanghai composite advanced more than 0.6 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 1.21 percent.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar fell versus its peers on Thursday after the Federal Reserve took a dovish turn at its latest policy meeting, a shift that stoked broader investor sentiment and supported currencies such as the Australian dollar and the euro. The U.S. central bank held interest rates steady as expected but discarded pledges of “further gradual increases” in interest rates, and said it would be “patient” before making any further moves. The Australian dollar added 0.2 percent to $0.7264, after rallying 1.3 percent on Wednesday, its largest percentage gain since Jan. 4.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose for a third day on Thursday, pushed up by signs of lower imports into the United States as part of efforts by OPEC to tighten the market. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $54.58 per barrel, up 35 cents, or 0.7 percent, from their last settlement. WTI closed up 1.7 percent on Wednesday, when prices touched their highest since Nov. 21 at $54.93 a barrel. The price rise came after a report from the U.S. EIA on Wednesday showed a decline in Saudi crude supply to the United States.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended sharply higher on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it would be patient in lifting borrowing costs further this year, reassuring investors worried about a slowing economy. The S&P 500 gained 1.57 percent, to 2,681.36 and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.2 percent, to 7,183.08. Boeing Co gained 6.25 percent after the world’s largest plane-maker forecast full-year profit and cash flow above analysts’ estimates amid a boom in air travel and speedier 737 production. The Philadelphia Semiconductor index jumped 2.87 percent, while the S&P technology index jumped 3.03 percent.

In Bond Markets U.S. government bond yields fell on Wednesday, with the biggest losses in shorter-dated maturities, after Federal Reserve held interest rates steady but said it would be patient in lifting borrowing costs further this year as it pointed to rising uncertainty about the U.S. economic outlook. Two-year yields, which reflect traders’ expectations of interest rate hikes, fell to a two-week low of 2.52 percent. The benchmark 10-year yield fell slower, steepening the yield curve. The spread between the two- and 10-year yields rose to 16.9 basis points, its highest in a week.