Nikkei rises to 8-week high on hopes Fed tapering will be modest

Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:15am BST
TOKYO, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose
to an eight-week high on Wednesday, spurred by expectations the
U.S. Federal Reserve will deliver only a modest cut to its
massive stimulus program at the end of its two-day meeting.

The Nikkei ended up 1.4 percent at 14,505.36, its
best close since July 25, and at one point hit 14,625.97. The
index broke above its short-term resistance level of 13,606.66,
a 68 percent retracement of its May high to its low in June.

The Topix gained 1.0 percent to 1,193.07.

UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Wed Sept 18

Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:30am BST
(Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up 18 points, or 0.3 percent higher on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures flat ahead of the cash market open.

Good thread = lots of information and connection to ? Reuters - well done whoever designed and started this Bob

FTSE100 little changed in early deals ahead of BoE minutes

BARC now ex-rights. Rights trading at 96p implying underlying BARC at 305p v close of 299.1p yesterday......

MPC Asset Purchase Facility Votes 0-0-9 0-0-9 0-0-9

MPC Official Bank Rate Votes 0-0-9 0-0-9 0-0-9

Morning All.

Fed likely to reduce bond buying, pass policy milestone

WASHINGTON | Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:55am BST
(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to begin its long retreat from ultra-easy monetary policy on Wednesday by announcing a small reduction in its bond buying, while stressing that interest rates will remain near zero for a long time to come.

Most economists expect the Fed to scale back its monthly purchases by a modest $10 billion, taking them to $75 billion and signaling the beginning of the end to an unprecedented episode of monetary expansion that has been felt worldwide.

USD Building Permits 0.92M 0.95M 0.95M

USD Housing Starts 0.89M 0.93M 0.90M

Midday Market Overview

Sorry late. Network went down... :(

USD Crude Oil Inventories -4.4M -1.2M -0.2M

FTSE100 ends modestly lower ahead of Fed announcement