Shock Swiss rate hike sets markets on edge ahead of BOJ

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell to a five-week low, dragged by selling in Australia where the ASX 200 dropped 2% and was on course for a 7% weekly fall. Japan’s Nikkei fell 2.4%, while shares in China – where rate rises are not an imminent worry – were outliers with modest gains.

Dollar off two-decade high as Fed delivers on 75bp hike

Markets had expected the 75 basis point hike and priced in several more after a surprisingly hot inflation reading last week. The dollar had scaled new heights as U.S. yields rose, but it lurched lower after Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference.It last traded at $1.0464 per euro, while in the Asia session the Australian dollar tacked another 0.4% on to its almost 2% overnight surge to hit $0.7031.

Fed mulls ‘Game Changer’ to jolt inflation: Decision Day Guide

The Fed will announce a decision and publish fresh forecasts at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Washington. Powell will hold a press conference 30 minutes later.“The usual rule is, if you are worried about how your moves are going to affect financial markets, you move gingerly,” said Barclays senior economist Jonathan Millar, among the first to call for 75 basis points.