The United States Federal Reserve Open Market Committee’s September decision on interest rates was entirely expected, with the FOMC holding rates at the current level of 5.25% to 5.5%. As also expected, the committee indicated there may be another rate hike coming this year, with Chairman Jerome Powell insisting — as usual — in his Sept. 20 press conference that the job of getting inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target is in “no way done.”

Crude oil prices have seen a significant drop in the Asian market on Thursday, following the Federal Reserve's warning of a possible increase in U.S. interest rates. This news has led investors to secure their recent gains, despite an ongoing expectation of a limited supply that could potentially boost crude oil's future prospects.

The dollar reached a 6.5-month peak on Thursday, September 21, 2023, after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled a continuation of its restrictive policy, even as it held rates steady. This comes as the Swiss franc fell following the Swiss National Bank's decision to maintain unchanged rates, marking the first time it has not increased rates since March 2022.

Gold futures marked a significant uptick on Wednesday, settling higher for a fifth consecutive session. This is the longest streak of daily gains since January, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The surge in prices was maintained even after the Federal Reserve's announcement, with the metal holding onto the bulk of its gains in electronic trading.

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. dollar eased against a basket of currencies on Thursday, but remained near a six-month high, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled U.S. monetary policy will remain restrictive for longer.