Asian stocks rose Thursday after Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said the bank would hike interest rates gradually to fight inflation, though oil marched higher as the Ukraine conflict continues to roil energy markets.
With the Russian invasion of its neighbour hammering all assets across the board as uncertainty reigns supreme, traders were given a much-needed shaft of light on Wednesday when the Fed boss eased concerns over its plans for tightening policy.
Powell told lawmakers he was in favour of a moderate pace of rate increases, with a 25-basis-point lift this month, as he tries to nurture the economic recovery while keeping a lid on prices, which are rising at their fastest pace in 40 years.
He warned that the “near-term effects on the US economy of the invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing war, the sanctions, and of events to come, remain highly uncertain”.
The comments soothed concerns that officials could announce an aggressive 50-basis-point lift. The issue of Fed tightening has cast a pall over markets for months, bringing a near two-year rally to an abrupt end, and that has now been compounded by the Ukraine crisis.
Powell did, however, say the bank would remain “nimble” to events and would act more aggressively if needed down the line.
Meanwhile, St. Louis Fed chief James Bullard said he was for a “rapid withdrawal of policy accommodation”, as Chicago president Charles Evans added that policy was currently “wrong-footed” and should be tightened.
Still, Powell’s comments were able to “appease risk-markets by ruling out a 50 basis-points hike in March, while simultaneously promising inflation vigilance at following meetings”, said Citigroup strategists William O’Donnell and Edward Acton.
Wall Street ended sharply higher with all three main indexes more than one percent up.
And Asia followed suit with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul and Singapore leading healthy gains.
But analysts warned of further volatility for some time as the war continues to rage in Ukraine.
While the war is making finance chiefs re-think their plans, central banks appear intent to keep on the tightening track for now, with the Bank of Canada on Wednesday announcing a rate rise.
The major source of angst for policy-setters is the spike in oil prices, which has been a key driver of inflation this year owing to narrow supplies and soaring demand and is now being amplified by the conflict in Europe.
On Thursday Brent continued to storm higher, hitting $118 a barrel for the first time since early 2013.
While world governments have not included Russian oil in their wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow owing to concerns about the impact on prices and consumers, trade has become increasingly tough as banks pull financing and shipping costs rise.
OPEC and other major producers, including Russia, refused Wednesday to lift output by more than their previously agreed amount, dealing a blow to hopes of an easing in supply pressures.
An agreement by the United States and 29 other countries to release 60 million barrels from their reserves has had little impact on the relentless rise in prices.
Other commodities are also elevated with European natural gas benchmarks and aluminium at records.