INFLATION

Federal Reserve officials sounded a relatively upbeat note on the U.S. economy on Wednesday, but warned timing withdrawal of the bank's extraordinary support for the economy will prove difficult.

The U.S. Federal Reserve must remain alert to lurking inflation risks, and could begin removing monetary stimulus by selling some of the mortgage debt it acquired during the financial crisis, a top central bank official said on Wednesday.

U.S. central bankers should not let pockets of weakness distract them from fighting inflation as the economy recovers, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker said on Wednesday.

U.S. central bankers should not let pockets of weakness in the economy distract them from fighting inflation, Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker said on Wednesday.

The weak U.S. economy is improving modestly with little upward pressure on wages and finished goods despite commodity price gains, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in a report that gives it little reason to move from its current ultra-low interest rates.

A Bank of Japan policymaker signaled on Wednesday the central bank was open to adopting more measures to support the economy following its emergency meeting the previous day that offered extra short-term funding.

The yen weakened broadly on Wednesday as traders took Japan's new monetary policy measures as a cue to sell, while mixed signals from stocks and commodities kept the dollar in check.

The yen weakened broadly on Wednesday as traders took Japan's new monetary policy measures unveiled the previous day as a cue to sell, while mixed signals from stocks and commodities kept the dollar in check.

Gold scaled another all-time high above $1,200 an ounce on Wednesday, helped by a weaker dollar as it lost some of its safe-haven appeal due to upbeat U.S. home sales and renewed appetite for riskier assets.

The U.S. Federal Reserve must be prepared to raise interest rates if needed before the jobless rate has fallen to an acceptable level, or risk losing its inflation-fighting credibility, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.

Regional Federal Reserve banks favored keeping interest rates low in November because of the risk an economic pickup might falter on weakening consumer spending.

Markets stabilized further in the Tuesday session with the dollar sliding against the majors, while global equity bourses rallied and spot gold surged to a new record high above the $1,200 per ounce level. Tokyo's Nikkei index climbed by over 2.4% on Tuesday while Germany's DAX index rallied by nearly 2.7% and the Dow Jones improved by more than 1.5% by afternoon trading. Philadelphia Fed President Plosser delivered an optimistic assessment on the economy earlier, expressing his confidence that...

The Federal Reserve must be prepared to raise interest rates if necessary before the jobless rate has fallen to acceptable levels, or risk losing its inflation-fighting credibility, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.

The Bank of Japan offered banks more short-term funds after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, relieving government pressure on the central bank to help avert another recession before upper house polls next year.

The yen fell broadly on Tuesday after the Bank of Japan announced more monetary policy easing measures to fight deflation and help the ailing economy, while holding interest rates at 0.1 percent.

The Bank of Japan offered banks more short-term funds after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, relieving government pressure on the central bank to help avert another recession before upper house polls next year.

The Bank of Japan offered banks more short-term funds after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, winning an immediate reprieve from government pressure to help avert recession before upper house polls next year.

The yen tumbled on Tuesday after the Bank of Japan called an emergency policy review to discuss ways to boost the ailing economy, but it regained some ground after the meeting when the central bank did not go as far as some investors had expected.

Belgian discount supermarket chain Colruyt reported an 8 percent rise in first-half net profit and repeated its forecast for a more modest rise in full-year net profit.

The Aussie dollar firmed in local trade yesterday with local equity markets recouping some of Friday's large losses.

The governor of the Bank of Japan said the bank will act decisively in the event of renewed financial market turmoil, his strongest hint yet at fresh support for the economy that analysts say could involve buying more government bonds or a return to quantitative easing.