"BOJ Surprise Triggers Stock Market Pause as Attention Shifts to U.S. Inflation Data"

Global shares took a breather as investors assessed the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) decision to make its yield curve control policy more flexible, signaling a potential shift away from ultra-loose monetary policy. The yen and Japanese bond yields rose, while Chinese stocks rallied on hopes of further stimulus. Oil was on track for a fifth consecutive week of gains, supported by stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth. In Europe, the STOXX index dipped after hitting a 17-month high, and the European Central Bank raised interest rates to their highest level in over two decades. The U.S. Commerce Department is set to release its Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, and the BOJ's policy shift could have significant implications for global money flows.