In Asian Equity Markets stocks managed gradual gains on Thursday as investors grappled with the risks of a recession and a potential pause in interest rate hikes, while the euro traded at a two-year low and oil began to claw back overnight losses. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up from a two-month low and had risen 1.02 percent by the afternoon. Japan’s Nikkei closed up 1.47 percent. South Korea’s KOSPI index gained 1.92 percent with Samsung Electronics one of the biggest movers after reporting earnings guidance that suggested a rebound for its chip business.

In Currency Markets the dollar was down on Thursday morning in Asia despite expectations of aggressive interest rate hikes that grew over the hawkish minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s June meeting. The U.S. Dollar Index that tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies fell 0.23 percent to 106.85. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar edged down 0.13 percent to 135,76. Aussie dollar gained 0.61 percent to $0.6816, and the kiwi was up 0.54 percent to $0.6180. Sterling edged up 0.12 percent to $1.1945.

In US Equity Markets stocks put a seesaw day behind it to close higher on Wednesday, as investors digested new clues on the U.S. central bank’s approach to rate policy and its inflation fight detailed in the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting. The Dow rose 0.23 percent, to 31,037.68, the S&P 500 gained 0.36 percent, to 3,845.08 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.35 percent, to 11,361.85. Eight of the 11 S&P subsectors closed higher, with utilities and technology leading the way. The biggest outlier was the energy index, which fell 1.7 percent as crude prices fell to a 12-week low on recession fears.

In Commodities Markets oil prices slid about 2 percent to a 12-week low in volatile trade on Wednesday, extending the prior session’s heavy losses as investors grew more worried energy demand would take a hit in a potential global recession. Brent futures for September delivery fell 2.0 percent, to settle at $100.69 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 1.0 percent, to settle at $98.53. Spot gold fell 1.4 percent to $1,738.99 per ounce. Spot silver rose 0.1 percent to $19.22 per ounce, platinum fell 1.2 percent to $855.02 and palladium fell 0.8 percent to $1,918.68.

In European Equity Markets stocks rallied on Wednesday after Norwegian oil and gas workers ended their strike, easing energy supply worries. The continent-wide STOXX 600 was up 1.7 percent, after ending 2.1 percent lower in the previous session when the strike in Norway threatened to cut energy supplies and severely dented the euro which continued its slide on Wednesday. Utility Uniper slid another 2.9 percent as Finnish parent Fortum said it was in talks with Germany to ease the company’s financial problems.

In Bond Markets benchmark U.S. Treasury yields edged higher on Wednesday but had a relatively muted reaction after minutes from the Fed’s June meeting showed that a deteriorating inflation situation prompted Fed officials to rally around an outsized interest rate increase. Benchmark 10-year yields were last at 2.919 percent after earlier falling to 2.746 percent, the lowest since May 27. Two-year Treasury yields were at 2.583 percent and are down from 3.456 percent on June 14, which was the highest since November 2007.