Us Qe3

Two influential Federal Reserve officials said they could still hike US interest rates in June despite weak recent economic data and skepticism among investors, putting the spotlight squarely on the economy's performance over the next two months.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signalled that the US central bank will likely start raising borrowing costs later this year, even before inflation and wages have returned to health, but emphasised the return to normal interest rates will be gradual.

The Federal Reserve should remain on track to raise interest rates later this year despite the US economy's weak start to the year and a stock market sell-off this week, two Fed officials said on Thursday.

Brent crude oil fell back towards $54 per barrel on Thursday after Kuwait said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had no choice but to keep production steady, refocusing the market on global oversupply.

US stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve suggested a less aggressive timeline for raising interest rates even as it opened the door for the first hike in almost a decade.

Oil prices jumped as much as 5 per cent on Wednesday as the dollar fell after the Federal Reserve indicated it preferred a more gradual path to normalising US interest rates despite being open to the first rate hike in almost a decade.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday opened the door further for an interest rate hike as early as June, ending its pledge to be "patient" in normalising monetary policy.

For a world economy coming to terms with a soaring dollar and a plunge in oil prices, this week will be all about the Federal Reserve's policy meeting and its intentions on interest rates.

The dollar edged lower and bond yields fell after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday that it would be several months before the Fed expects to raise interest rates, while European equity markets gained after Greece produced a list of proposed economic reforms.

The Federal Reserve is preparing to consider interest rate hikes "on a meeting-by-meeting basis", Fed Chair Janet Yellen told a congressional committee on Tuesday, a subtle shift of emphasis that helps lay the groundwork for the Fed's first rate hike since 2006.

US stocks closed with slight losses on Wednesday, finishing off their lows of the session, after the Federal Reserve ended its stimulative monthly bond-buying program and expressed confidence in US economic prospects.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday ended its monthly bond purchase program and signaled confidence the US economic recovery would remain on track despite signs of a slowdown in many parts of the global economy.

As the Federal Reserve's top officials debated their decision to scale back a massive bond-buying stimulus program last month, they were keen to steer a delicate path and to make it clear that future decisions were not set in stone.

Most economists expect the Fed to scale back its monthly purchases by a modest $10 billion, taking them to $75 billion and signaling the beginning of the end to an unprecedented episode of monetary expansion that has been felt worldwide.

The Fed is expected to begin its long retreat from ultra-easy monetary policy by announcing a small reduction to its $85 billion monthly bond purchases following a two-day policy meeting that ends on Wednesday. Many expect a $10 billion cut.

Two influential Federal Reserve officials said they could still hike US interest rates in June despite weak recent economic data and skepticism among investors, putting the spotlight squarely on the economy's performance over the next two months.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signalled that the US central bank will likely start raising borrowing costs later this year, even before inflation and wages have returned to health, but emphasised the return to normal interest rates will be gradual.

The Federal Reserve should remain on track to raise interest rates later this year despite the US economy's weak start to the year and a stock market sell-off this week, two Fed officials said on Thursday.

Brent crude oil fell back towards $54 per barrel on Thursday after Kuwait said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had no choice but to keep production steady, refocusing the market on global oversupply.

US stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve suggested a less aggressive timeline for raising interest rates even as it opened the door for the first hike in almost a decade.

Oil prices jumped as much as 5 per cent on Wednesday as the dollar fell after the Federal Reserve indicated it preferred a more gradual path to normalising US interest rates despite being open to the first rate hike in almost a decade.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday opened the door further for an interest rate hike as early as June, ending its pledge to be "patient" in normalising monetary policy.

For a world economy coming to terms with a soaring dollar and a plunge in oil prices, this week will be all about the Federal Reserve's policy meeting and its intentions on interest rates.

The dollar edged lower and bond yields fell after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Tuesday that it would be several months before the Fed expects to raise interest rates, while European equity markets gained after Greece produced a list of proposed economic reforms.

The Federal Reserve is preparing to consider interest rate hikes "on a meeting-by-meeting basis", Fed Chair Janet Yellen told a congressional committee on Tuesday, a subtle shift of emphasis that helps lay the groundwork for the Fed's first rate hike since 2006.

US stocks closed with slight losses on Wednesday, finishing off their lows of the session, after the Federal Reserve ended its stimulative monthly bond-buying program and expressed confidence in US economic prospects.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday ended its monthly bond purchase program and signaled confidence the US economic recovery would remain on track despite signs of a slowdown in many parts of the global economy.

As the Federal Reserve's top officials debated their decision to scale back a massive bond-buying stimulus program last month, they were keen to steer a delicate path and to make it clear that future decisions were not set in stone.

Most economists expect the Fed to scale back its monthly purchases by a modest $10 billion, taking them to $75 billion and signaling the beginning of the end to an unprecedented episode of monetary expansion that has been felt worldwide.

The Fed is expected to begin its long retreat from ultra-easy monetary policy by announcing a small reduction to its $85 billion monthly bond purchases following a two-day policy meeting that ends on Wednesday. Many expect a $10 billion cut.