Sawt Falasteen - Stocks advance ahead of US rate hike

The dollar reached the highest level in 20 years against a basket of major rival currencies with investors seeking safety as Russia escalates operations in its war against Ukraine.

The Dollar index, which compares the US unit against currencies including the euro, pound and yen, jumped to 111.06 points, also as the Fed prepares a third successive jumbo rate hike to combat decades-high inflation.

The British pound hit a new 37-year low at $1.1305, even as the Bank of England prepares to announce its own large interest rate hike Thursday.

"Global stock markets remain under pressure as investors await the Federal Reserve's much-anticipated interest rate decision today, keep a close eye on the energy crisis in Europe, and weigh other risks including a slowing Chinese and global economies," said City Index analyst Fawad Razaqzada.

Although European and US equity indices were advancing ahead of the Fed's decision, Razaqzada said he believes "the path of least resistance is to the downside and the selling pressure will likely resume amid a bearish macro-outlook."

Stocks have taken a battering since hotter-than-expected US inflation data last week solidified expectations that the Fed will announce another 75 basis-point lift, with some predicting a full percentage-point move.

The current Fed rate is 2.25 to 2.50 percent.

"The Fed is having to be cruel in order to restore price stability," noted Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

"Higher rates will cause pain to households and businesses, with the jobs market being closely watched for signs of redundancies and hiring freezes."

In the event of no surprises on the rate hike, the US central bank's forecast and post-meeting comments from boss Jerome Powell will be the main attraction for investors.

Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare said investors will be looking at the updated projection for the peak of this cycle of interest rate hikes, or the terminal rate, with the market now expecting a peak of 4.50-4.75 percent by May 2023.

If the Fed's projection is lower, then a relief rally could come about, depending on what Powell says in his press conference, he said.

If Powell "strikes a softer tone than he did at the Jackson Hole Conference (of central bankers) in late August, suggesting the Fed may be getting close to a point where it can pause its rate hikes, then the stock market should respond quite favorably," said O'Hare.

Other central banks are meeting this week. On Tuesday, policymakers in Sweden surprised markets by unveiling a one percentage-point hike.

Adding to the cautious mood was Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "partial mobilisation" as Russia's president upped the ante in his battle against Ukraine.

Putin backed annexation referendums in four regions in Russian-held parts of Ukraine and issued a thinly-veiled threat about using nuclear weapons.

The moves mark an escalation in the seven-month war, which has roiled markets and sparked an energy crisis.

Oil prices surged nearly three percent on Wednesday before turning negative. They have wilted in recent months on weaker demand expectations fuelled by recession fears.

"Crude oil prices have edged higher in the wake of this morning’s hawkishness from Russia, however once again progress has been difficult, as recession concerns dominate," said Michael Hewson at CMC Markets.

Asian stock markets closed lower Wednesday, reversing Tuesday's bounce.

- Key figures at around 1530 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 30,840.96 points

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.7 percent at 3,491.87

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,237.64 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.8 percent at 12,6767.15 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 6,031.33 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.4 percent at 27,313.13 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.8 percent at 18,444.62 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,117.18 (close)

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.1329 from $1.1384 Tuesday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $0.9877 from $0.9970

Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.12 pence from 87.63 pence

Dollar/yen: UP at 144.11 yen from 143.72 yen

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $89.71 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.1 percent at $83.01 per barrel

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Q.Bulbul--SF-PST