US stocks fell on Wednesday after the minutes of the Federal Reserve policy meeting in March showed that central bank officials are worried about the banking crisis and high inflation.
The S&P 500 closed down 0.40% at 4,092.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.10% at 33,652.63. The Nasdaq Composite was down 0.84% at 11,931.13.
Earlier in the day, the US Labor Department released inflation data. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% in March after rising 0.4% in February. Consumer prices rose 5% in March on an annual basis, down from 6% in February.
The latest inflation data suggests the Fed may hold off on a rate hike next month.
US bond yields declined following the inflation data. The yield on 2-year Treasuries fell as much as 15 basis points before recouping losses. The US dollar declined against other major currencies.
Canada
Canadian stocks rose on Wednesday as the Bank of Canada kept interest rates unchanged. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index rose 0.2% to 20,454.32.
european equity
European equities rose on Wednesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index adding 0.1%.
Europe’s blue-chip STOXX 50 index rose to its highest since 2001 on strong buying demand for mega-cap stocks, but the index ended marginally higher.
Britain’s FTSE 100 closed at 7,824.84, up 0.5%. France’s CAC 40 rose 0.1% to 7,396.94. Germany’s DAX was up 0.3% at 15,703.60.
asian stock
In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.16% in volatile trade.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 0.9% at 20,309.86. The Shanghai Composite Index closed up 0.4% at 3,327.18. South Korean benchmark Kospi rose 0.11% to 2,550.64.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed up 0.6% at 28,082.70.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5% to 7,343.90. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.4% to 11,917.50.
crude oil
Oil prices rose 2% on Wednesday. Brent crude for delivery in June rose $1.72 to $87.33 a barrel. US crude benchmark for May delivery rose $1.73 to $83.26 a barrel.
bullion
Gold prices rose on Wednesday. US gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,024.90 an ounce. Silver for May delivery rose 27 cents to $25.46 an ounce.
Bitcoin fell 1.01% to $29,941.00.
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