• The dollar rose to a two-week high against a basket of major currencies on Thursday, on stronger risk appetite across markets and optimism the United States will successfully push through a tax reform programme.
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar hit a two-week high of 93.745. It was last up 0.2 percent at 93.773.
The euro slipped to a two-week low of $1.1773 against a stronger dollar. It was last down 0.2 percent on the day at $1.1776.
• Bitcoin rocketed to a lifetime high well above $16,000 on Thursday after climbing some 67 percent over one week, intensifying the debate about whether the cryptocurrency is in a bubble about to burst.
Bitcoin climbed as high as $16,615.62 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange BTC=BTSP, up nearly 22 percent on the day. It was last at $16,607.14.
• The U.S. Congress, rushing to beat a Friday midnight deadline, on Thursday passed legislation funding the government through Dec. 22.
By a vote of 235-193, the House of Representatives passed the bill and rapidly sent it to the Senate, which then approved it 81-14, sending it to President Donald Trump for signing into law.
• Japan’s economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.5 percent in the July-September quarter, revised up from a preliminary estimate of 1.4 percent growth, Cabinet Office data showed on Friday.
• Oil prices climbed more than 1 percent on Thursday due to a threatened strike in Nigeria and as traders cover shorts after sharp losses the previous day brought on by an unexpectedly large rise in U.S. stocks of refined fuels.
Brent futures rose 98 cents, or 1.6 percent, to settle at $62.20 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 73 cents, or 1.3 percent, to settle at $56.69.
Reference: Reuters
Thai
Eng