June 17 (Reuters) – Global stocks wavered and oil prices rose on Tuesday, as conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fifth day, while the yen was choppy after the Bank of Japan decided to slow the pace of reduction in its bond purchases from April next year.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ), which left its short-term interest rates at 0.5% as expected, decided to leave unchanged its bond taper plan that runs through March 2026, but set out a new plan beyond next April.
The yen swung between small gains and losses to stand at 144.80 against the dollar as investors’ focus switches to a 0630 GMT press conference by BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda to explain the decision.
Heightened uncertainty and escalating air conflict in the Middle East drove investors to traditional safe-haven assets, as a rise in U.S. Treasuries pushed yields lower across the curve, while gold steadied after a 0.5% rise earlier.
Heightened uncertainty and escalating air conflict in the Middle East drove investors to traditional safe-haven assets, as a rise in U.S. Treasuries pushed yields lower across the curve, while gold steadied after a 0.5% rise earlier.