In Asian Equity Markets stock markets fell on Thursday amid growing concerns over an economic slowdown in China, while a crash in the crypto market also dampened sentiment ahead of the release of key U.S. inflation data that is expected to factor into monetary policy. China’s blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index fell 1.3 percent, while the Shanghai Composite index shed 0.8 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 2.2 percent, also falling for a third straight session. South Korea’s KOSPI index fell 0.7 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index shed 1 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar lost some of its overnight gains ahead of U.S. inflation data due later on Thursday. The euro staved off a break below parity to last stand 0.25 percent higher at $1.00375. Sterling gained 0.46 percent to $1.1412, making a partial recovery from a 1.6 percent slide overnight. The U.S. dollar index was 0.14 percent lower at 110.19, after rising nearly 0.8 percent overnight. The Aussie edged 0.2 percent lower to $0.6418 while the kiwi was down 0.11 percent at $0.5877. The yen last bought 146.11 per dollar.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended sharply lower on Wednesday as Republican gains in midterm elections appeared more modest than some expected, with investors also focusing on upcoming inflation data that will provide clues about the severity of future interest rate hikes. The S&P 500 declined 2.08 percent to end the session at 3,748.58 points. The Nasdaq declined 2.48 percent to 10,353.18 points, while the Dow declined 1.95 percent to 32,513.94 points. Wendy’s Co rallied 3 percent after the hamburger chain reported quarterly sales and profit that beat analysts’ estimates.

In Commodities Markets oil prices sank by roughly $3 a barrel on Wednesday after industry data showed that U.S. crude stockpiles rose more than expected and on concerns that a rebound in COVID-19 cases in top importer China would hurt fuel demand. Brent crude futures settled at $92.65 a barrel, shedding 2.8 percent, while U.S. WTI crude futures settled at $85.83 a barrel, falling 3.5 percent. Spot gold fell 0.4 percent to $1,705.84 per ounce. Spot silver fell 1.2 percent to $21.08 per ounce. Platinum lost 1.4 percent to $983.33, while palladium eased 3.4 percent to $1,856.38.

In European Equity Markets stocks snapped a three-day advance on Wednesday, weighed down by economically sensitive stocks, amid uncertainty over the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections and on concerns about rising inflation. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.3 percent lower after clocking an eight-week closing high in the prior session. Dutch bank ABN Amro rose 4.4 percent as it beat analysts’ expectations, saying its net profit had more than doubled to 743 million euros ($747.98 million) in the third quarter.

In Bond Markets U.S. yields on the long end of the curve rose in choppy trading on Wednesday as results for the midterm elections so far have not shown the widely-anticipated sweeping “red wave” Republican victory, leaving investors to focus on the upcoming inflation data. In afternoon trading, yields on the benchmark 10-year note were up 2.5 basis points (bps) at 4.153 percent, while those on the two-year note, which tend to reflect U.S. rate move expectations, were down 4 bps at 4.629 percent. U.S. 30-year yields were up 5.4 bps at 4.314 percent.