TOKYO, May 23- Japan's Nikkei average scaled fresh 5-1/ 2- year highs on Thursday, aided by currency-sensitive exporters as the yen weakened against the dollar after U.S. Federal Reserve chief suggested the central bank could scale back stimulus in coming months.
*HSBC's early report on China's factory sector next in focus. SYDNEY, May 23- The dollar hovered at a near three-year high against a basket of major currencies in Asia on Thursday, having risen broadly as Treasury yields jumped on the prospect that the Federal Reserve might scale back its stimulus programme this year.
NEW YORK, May 22- Oil prices fell on Wednesday as a rise in U.S. gasoline inventories prompted selling, then crude extended losses in late trading after minutes from a Federal Reserve policy meeting sent U.S. stock markets down. Brent crude futures fell $1.31 to settle at $102.60, after shedding nearly a dollar in the previous session.
NEW YORK, May 22- Bill Gross, co-chief investment officer of bond giant PIMCO, said on Wednesday the U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Wednesday the central bank could decide to scale back its stimulus at one of its "next few meetings" if the economy looked set to maintain momentum.
NEW YORK, May 22- The dollar rose to a 4-1/ 2- year high against the yen and a near three-year peak against a currency basket on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stoked speculation the U.S. central bank could slow its asset buying in coming months.
NEW YORK, May 22- Brent crude extended losses in late trading on Wednesday to settle below $103 a barrel, after minutes from the Federal Reserve sent U.S. stock markets down and compounded earlier oil weakness stemming from a rise in U.S. gasoline inventories.
WASHINGTON, May 22- Many Federal Reserve officials earlier this month wanted to see more evidence that the U.S. economy was recovering before shifting toward a tapering of their bond purchase program, the Fed said on Wednesday. At the meeting, the Fed voted to keep buying bonds at a $85 billion monthly pace.
NEW YORK, May 22- U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday with a selloff accelerating in late afternoon trade, after minutes from the latest U.S. The minutes followed comments from Chairman Ben Bernanke who said the Fed could decide to scale back the pace of bond purchases at one of the "next few meetings" if the economic recovery looked set to maintain forward momentum.
NEW YORK, May 22- U.S. Treasury yields on the benchmark 10- year note rose above the key two percent level on Wednesday, the highest level in two months, as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke added to bond investor fears that the U.S. central bank might slow its bond purchases later this year if the economy improves further.
NEW YORK, May 22- The dollar rallied to a 4-1/ 2- year high against the yen and a near three-year peak against a currency basket on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stoked speculation the U.S. central bank could begin slowing its asset buying in coming months.