A Quick Glance at News

·      The Bank of Japan expanded its asset-purchase fund to 55 trillion yen ($695 billion) from 45 trillion yen, following the Fed’s announcement last week of a third round of so-called quantitative easing. Five of 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News predicted the BOJ would announce stimulus plans today.

·      The Bank of Japan Wednesday said it will provide more monetary stimulus in response to a slowing in domestic economic activity, increasing the size of its asset purchases by 10 trillion yen ($126.7 billion) to about ¥80 trillion.

·      Asian shares rebounded in choppy trade and the yen fell on Wednesday after the Bank of Japan eased monetary policy further, following the U.S. Federal Reserve's aggressive stimulus and raising speculation of bigger central bank efforts to support growth.

·      A string of speeches from top Federal Reserve officials on Tuesday suggested the U.S. central bank is willing to be aggressive in its drive to beef up economic growth, yet also highlighted a small but vocal minority opposing fresh stimulus.

·      Stocks ended flat to slightly lower on Tuesday after bellwether FedEx (FDX.N) cut its profit forecast and investors pulled back after last week's rally on central bank stimulus.

·      Brent crude rose above $112 a barrel on Wednesday after Japan's central bank announced it would boost asset purchases to stimulate the economy of the world's third biggest oil consumer.

·      Research In Motion's shares jumped on Tuesday after it signed a patent licensing deal with Microsoft Corp to use one of the technology company's file storage systems.

·      Gold climbed toward the highest level in more than six months as central banks around the world added steps to boost economic growth, potentially debasing currencies and raising the appeal of bullion as a store of value.

·      An accelerating flight of deposits from banks in four European countries is jeopardizing the renewal of economic growth and undermining a main tenet of the common currency: an integrated financial system.

·      European stock futures advanced, Asian shares headed for their strongest close in four months, and the yen weakened after the Bank of Japan expanded its asset- purchase program, following a move last week from the Federal Reserve to stimulate growth. Commodities rallied.

·      Oil climbed from the lowest close in more than two weeks in New York amid speculation that Japan’s expanded program of monetary easing may bolster fuel demand in the world’s third-biggest crude user.

·       BP PLC is reportedly in talks to sell its Texas City refinery to Marathon Petroleum Corp. , the Financial Times reported in its online edition on Tuesday, citing persons familiar with the matter. Citing those people, the FT said the talks had been ongoing for months, though it was unclear if a deal could be reached.