The Federal Reserve’s policy meeting minutes from March revealed that officials are worried about the financial crisis and the high inflation, which led to a decline in US markets on Wednesday.At 4,092.28, the S&P 500 fell by 0.40 percent. At 33,652.63, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 0.10%. At 11,931.13, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.84%.

The US Labor Department had earlier in the day made the inflation figures public. After rising by 0.4% in February, the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.1% in March. Consumer prices increased by 5% annually in March, down from 6% in February.

The most recent inflation numbers indicate that the Fed might postpone raising rates next month. The inflation statistics caused a decrease in US bond yields. Before cutting back the loss, the yield on 2-year Treasury bonds fell by as much as 15 basis points. In comparison to other major currencies, the US dollar fell.

Canada

Canada stocks gained on Wednesday as the Bank of Canada kept interest rates unchanged. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index rose 0.2% at 20,454.32.

European equities

European equities rose on Wednesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 0.1%.

Europe’s blue-chip STOXX 50 index hit its highest since 2001 on strong buying demand of mega-cap stocks, but the index ended marginally higher.

Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.5% at 7,824.84. France’s CAC 40 added 0.1% at 7,396.94. Germany’s DAX rose 0.3% at 15,703.60.

Asian shares

In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares, outside Japan, fell 0.16% in choppy trade.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.9% at 20,309.86. Shanghai Composite index gained 0.4% at 3,327.18. South Korean benchmark Kospi rose slightly 0.11% at 2,550.64.

In Japan, Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% at 28,082.70.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.5% at 7,343.90. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index surged 0.4% at 11,917.50.

Crude oil

Oil prices advanced 2% on Wednesday. Brent crude for June delivery gained $1.72 at $87.33 a barrel. US crude oil benchmark for May delivery rose $1.73 at $83.26 a barrel.

Bullion

Gold prices surged on Wednesday. US gold futures settled 0.3% higher at $2,024.90 an ounce. Silver for May delivery rose 27 cents to $25.46 an ounce.

Bitcoin fell 1.01% at $29,941.00.