LONDON, Dec 21 — European and US stocks traded higher today and the yen steadied after its biggest daily gain versus the dollar in 24 years following a shock Bank of Japan tweak to monetary policy.

In Europe, Paris led the way, gaining 1.3 per cent in mid-afternoon trading, followed by Frankfurt at just under one per cent higher, slightly ahead of London.

Wall Street stocks also climbed after opening, bouyed by rises for both Nike and FedEx after earnings reports.

"The stock market was primed to jump on any whiff of news that was better than feared, better than expected, or simply good,” said Patrick J. O’Hare, of Briefing.com.

"That’s what it is doing this morning, enthused by the possibility that Nike and FedEx might be snow plows clearing the path for a year-end/Santa Claus rally effort.”

Investors were also still digesting a BoJ move Tuesday to allow yields on certain government bonds to move in a wider band.

It was seen as a precursor to a possible interest rate hike next year, finally bringing the central bank in line with others around the world.

National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill said the "tweak has... been interpreted as putting the writing on the wall for a policy shift next year”.

The announcement resulted in Japan’s currency soaring to a four-month high against the dollar, with the US unit worth 130.58 yen.

A gain of 3.9 per cent for the yen yesterday was the biggest daily jump since 1998.

One dollar was worth 132.35 yen today.

"It would be safe to assume that the BoJ shift will likely fuel further yen strength on repatriation flows as local bond yields rise,” noted Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.

The yen’s gain continued to weigh on share prices of Japanese exporters today.

‘Welcome relative calm’

The BoJ move followed hikes to US and European interest rates last week and warnings by officials that tightening would likely go higher than initially expected.

A series of aggressive rate hikes this year is aimed at bringing decades-high inflation under control but higher borrowing costs have fanned speculation of a world recession.

"The relative calm in equity markets is a welcome relief for investors who have been shellshocked too many times to count in one of the worst years for stocks and bonds in more than a decade,” said Innes, of SPI Asset Management.

Traders were also keeping an eye on China as it quickly reopens after almost three years of a zero-Covid policy of lockdowns and mass testing that hammered the world’s number two economy.

However, there is a worry about the immediate impact of a spike in infections, with hospitals struggling, pharmacy shelves being stripped bare and crematoriums overwhelmed.

"Though unspoken, it is well understood that policymakers have decided to accept a sizeable Covid wave,” said analyst Innes. — AFP