23 February 2017
Many Federal Reserve policymakers said it may be appropriate to raise interest rates again "fairly soon" should jobs and inflation data come in line with expectations, according to the minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting released on Wednesday.

The minutes of the January 31- February 1 discussion, at which the U.S. central bank voted to keep rates unchanged, also showed the depth of uncertainty at the Fed because of a lack of clarity on the new Trump administration's economic program.

Asian stocks eased from a 19-month high on Thursday. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged down almost 0.1 percent having jumped to its highest level on Wednesday since July 2015.

Dubai's share index rose on Wednesday as builder Arabtec surged after getting initial approval from the securities regulator to increase its capital, while Saudi chemicals producer Tasnee gained on news it will sell a major business segment.

Oil prices gained following American Petroleum Institute data showing a surprise drop in U.S. crude stocks last week. Official data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration is expected on Thursday.

Gold prices held steady on Thursday, after the release of minutes from the last U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

In the latest news, Britain's economy accelerated at the end of 2016 but growth for the whole year was weaker than previously thought and there are signs of weakness ahead, data showed, suggesting the Brexit vote will start to take its toll in 2017.

South Korea's central bank kept interest rates unchanged for an eighth straight month on Thursday, opting for stability as it monitors uncertainties ranging from an unpredictable North Korea to global policy challenges and a political scandal at home.

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