TOKYO, May 22- The Bank of Japan kept policy steady on Wednesday despite concerns over recent volatility in bond market, saying growth is starting to pick up even as risks loomed from an uncertain global outlook. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will hold a news conference from 0630 GMT with his comments expected to come out any time after 0715 GMT.
*Gold still trading near 2- year lows. SINGAPORE, May 22- Gold edged higher on Wednesday due to strong Chinese demand and after Federal Reserve officials allayed investor concerns that the U.S. central bank will soon exit its bullion-friendly bond purchases.
TOKYO, May 22- Japanese government bonds edged up on Wednesday in line with a rise in U.S. bonds following dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials, but the Bank of Japan's looming policy meeting kept traders on edge.
SINGAPORE, May 22- London copper on Wednesday held below two week-highs hit the session before after Federal Reserve officials suggested the central bank would continue its bond-buying scheme. *Copper pushed to its highest since May 8 at $7,450 a tonne on Tuesday.
SINGAPORE, May 22- Gold edged higher on Wednesday, buoyed by a weaker dollar after Federal Reserve officials dampened expectations that the U.S. central bank may soon exit its bullion-friendly bond purchases.
SYDNEY, May 22- Asian stocks rose on Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street with Japan's Nikkei reaching a 5-1/ 2 year high, while the yen took a defensive stance ahead of the outcome of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2 percent, reversing some of Tuesday's 0.4 percent decline.
FED WATCH: Stock indexes wobbled in early trading Tuesday, then turned higher just before noon. That's when news crossed that James Bullard, a Federal Reserve official, told an audience that the Fed should stick with its bond-buying effort to bolster the economy.
TOKYO, May 22- The Bank of Japan is expected to stand pat on monetary policy on Wednesday despite jitters over the recent volatility in bond markets, hoping it can prevent a renewed spike in yields by fine-tuning market operations.
NEW YORK/ FRANKFURT, May 21- Two senior Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday played down the chances that the U.S. central bank would signal a readiness to reduce its bond buying at its meeting next month, dampening speculation the Fed's ultra-easy monetary policy might end soon. New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley and St.
NEW YORK, May 21- U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, with the Dow and the S&P 500 closing at new all-time highs as comments from Federal Reserve officials eased some concerns that the central bank could start reducing its stimulus program. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 52.30 points, or 0.35 percent, to end unofficially at a record 15,387.58.
MONTREAL, May 21- The next head of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, agreed on Tuesday with current Governor Mervyn King that the British central bank could not be run as a one-man show. But each of those responsibilities are discharged by committees of which the governor of the Bank of England is only one member. "
NEW YORK, May 21- Crude oil futures ended lower on Tuesday, falling early as the dollar strengthened, then paring losses as the greenback weakened after a Federal Reserve official said he did not believe the U.S. central bank should pull back on its quantitative easing program.
FRANKFURT/ NEW YORK, May 21- Two senior Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday played down chances that the U.S. central bank would signal a readiness to taper bond buying at its meeting next month, dampening speculation the Fed might soon dial back its ultra-easy policy. New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley and St.
POSITIVE SIGNS: Germany's central bank expects the country's economy to improve "markedly" in the second quarter. Germany grew only 0.1 percent in the first quarter in part because cold weather delayed the construction season. The European Central Bank expects a gradual recovery in the second half of the year.
LONDON, May 21- EU regulators confirmed on Tuesday that they will cap bonuses of bankers earning more than 500,000 euros a year and added other conditions to make the pay ceiling harder to smash.
The headline figure was leaked last Friday, triggering warnings by banks in the European Union that they may lose staff to other parts of the world, and that London, the bloc's top financial centre, could be damaged. Accounting firm PwC predicted that up to 10 times the number of bankers in London will be hit compared with current pay curbs.