MTS Help Center

·       European stocks open higher on the back of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was slightly higher with the majority of sectors in positive territory.

In Asia, shares were mostly higher taking cues from Wall Street. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank would be "patient" in increasing rates. The indication of a slower hiking cycle is generally positive for stocks.

Meanwhile, investors are also following another round of trade talks between China and the U.S.

·       Asia stocks rose to a four-month high on Thursday after the Federal Reserve pledged to be patient with further interest rate hikes, signaling a potential end to its tightening cycle amid signs of slowing global growth.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose to its highest since Oct. 4 and was last up 0.9 percent.

The Fed on Wednesday held interest rates steady as expected, and also discarded its promises of “further gradual increases” in interest rates.

The central bank said it would be “patient” before making any further moves amid a suddenly cloudy outlook for the U.S. economy due to global growth risks and impasses over trade and government budget negotiations.

·       Japan’s Nikkei rebounded on Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve’s pledge to be patient over lifting interest rates helped ease worries about risks facing the slowing global economy.

The Nikkei share average closed up 1.1 percent at 20,773.49, after reaching 20,869.42 in the morning, its highest level since Jan. 21.

For the month, the Nikkei gained 3.8 percent, after diving 10.5 percent last month.

Analysts said Japanese investors welcomed the Fed’s more cautious stance, but noted it would tend to weaken the dollar and boost the yen, posing a risk to export-oriented stocks.

·       China stocks rose on Thursday, joining a rally in broader Asian markets, after the U.S. Federal Reserve pledged to be patient with further interest rate hikes, signalling a potential end to its tightening cycle amid signs of slowing global growth.

The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 1.1 percent, to 3,201.63, while the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.4 percent to 2,584.57 points.