MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS pulled back 0.5 percent.
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In the USA, the yield on 10-Year Treasury notes declined 0.022 percentage points to 1.536% as prices rose 7/32 to 99 22/32. Australian shares .AXJO closed 0.3 percent higher, recording a 0.1 percent decline for the week.
Spot gold was down 0.4% at $1,346.56/oz at 3.58am GMT, but up 0.8% for the week.
US stocks eked out gains on Thursday following upbeat earnings and forecasts from Wal-Mart and as higher oil lifted energy shares. Investors will look for further clues as Chair Janet Yellen speaks Aug 26 at an annual gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“The markets have decided that the Fed took a rather dovish tone this time”, said George Milling-Stanley, Head of Gold Strategy at State Street Global Advisors.
The dollar sank to the lowest level in almost eight weeks on Thursday amid reduced expectations for a Fed rate hike before the end of the year. The policymaker said earlier this week the Fed could possibly raise rates in September.
“Putting that altogether and you have a flawless recipe for policy paralysis and indecision, which is a far cry from the beginning of this year when four rate hikes for 2016 appeared to be a view the Fed appeared keen to encourage”.
At home, the FTSE 100 gained 9.81 points to end the session 0.14 percent higher at 6,868.96, with a weaker dollar propping up metals prices and fuelling demand for London-listed miners. The common currency was headed to gain 1.7 per cent this week. Traders had drawn encouragement in recent sessions from falling USA stockpiles and talks of a production cap by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Shares in Japan and Europe have fared worse since Monday, on track to lose 2.2% and 1.6% respectively.
The euro slipped 0.2 per cent to $1.13320 after touching $1.1366 overnight, its highest since June 24.
Both benchmarks have risen more than 20 per cent from a lowin early August on news the Organization of the PetroleumExporting Countries (OPEC) and other key exporters may revive talks on freezing output levels when they meet in Algerianext month.
Williams on Thursday told reporters that despite his call for a longer-term rethink, monetary policy must for now be set based on current goals, including full employment and a target of 2-percent inflation. USA crude was en route to rise 8.6 per cent this week and Brent LCOc1 was poised to add 8.3 per cent.
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USA crude CLc1 , which rose as much as 3.4 percent on Thursday, set a fresh six-week high of $48.65. West Texas Intermediate crude increased $1.32 to $48.22 per barrel.
