{
  "id": 8146223,
  "title": "Stocks rise as oil dips, yen wobbles ahead of BoJ",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/stocks-rise-as-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-of-boj-8146223",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-18T01:41:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/09/1535220/stocks-rise-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-boj"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asian stocks climbed and the dollar remained stable on Friday as global policymakers intensified efforts to curb inflation, with a decline in oil prices boosting investor sentiment ahead of a potential Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hike. The prolonged war in the Middle East has contributed to oil prices staying above US$100 per barrel, fueling inflation concerns worldwide. Investors also considered alternative oil supply routes from the Middle East in hopes of reaching markets, causing Brent crude futures to fall by 1 per cent to US$103.77 a barrel, despite lingering concerns over strikes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis.\n\nWall Street's overnight rally, driven by downbeat tech stocks, influenced traders. Bond prices stabilized after another severe sell-off that pushed the 10-year US Treasury yield above 5 per cent, its highest level since 2007. In Asia, the MSCI's Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.55 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei increased by 0.9 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI surged 2 per cent.\n\nThe Bank of England suggested it might need to raise interest rates if the Middle East conflict persists, while the Federal Reserve increased rates for the first time in three years and signaled additional hikes in the future. The European Central Bank also warned of the need for further tightening, raising rates last week.\n\nYen weakened to 156.23 per US dollar, and traders anticipated the BoJ's policy decision later in the day, with the central bank planning to raise interest rates to a 31-year high to tackle inflation. The critical factor for markets is not just whether the BoJ raises rates, but also how they are raised and Governor Ueda's communication about the bank's future approach. The yen has rallied this month due to expectations of faster BoJ rate hikes and early repatriation signs from Japanese investors, but has lost some gains this week as the US central bank adopted a more hawkish stance. If the BoJ hikes rates again, as expected, volatility could resurface, according to Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: Asian stocks rose and the dollar held its ground on Friday as investors contended with global policymakers ramping up efforts to rein in inflation, with a dip in oil prices improving sentiment ahead of an expected rate hike from the Bank of Japan (BoJ).",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Stocks rise as oil dips, yen wobbles ahead of BOJ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/stocks-rise-as-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-of-boj",
        "published": "2026-09-18T01:36:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Stocks rise as oil dips, yen wobbles ahead of BOJ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/stocks-rise-as-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-of-boj-8145675",
        "published": "2026-09-18T01:42:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Stocks rise as oil dips, yen wobbles ahead of BOJ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/stocks-rise-as-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-of-boj-8158424",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:41:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Stocks rise as oil dips, yen wobbles ahead of BOJ",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/stocks-rise-as-oil-dips-yen-wobbles-ahead-of-boj-8161768",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:59:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Tokyo stocks mixed on tech gains, wait-and-see ahead BOJ outcome weighs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/tokyo-stocks-mixed-on-tech-gains-wait-and-see-ahead-boj-outcome-weighs",
        "published": "2026-09-18T03:40:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}