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As a host of major central banks hold policy meetings over the next 24 hours, the U.S. Federal Reserve hogs the spotlight but it could be the Bank of Japan that surprises markets. The Bank of England (BoE), Bank of Japan (BOJ), Norges Bank and Sweden's Riksbank announce rate decisions on Thursday, hours after the Fed's announcement on Wednesday. Pricing in Japan implies a 20% chance of a rate hike - but that higher rates are a matter of time with more than 40 bps of hikes priced in by the end of 2025.

South Korea's central bank will maintain its inflation target of 2% until the next policy review, as the era of "low-inflation" is unlikely to come in a year or two, the bank's governor said on Wednesday. "The Bank of Korea (BOK), through consultation with the government, has decided to maintain the current price stability target of 2% until the next review," Governor Rhee Chang-yong said. The central bank will continue to assess if there is any need for improvements in its inflation-targeting system, Rhee said at a press conference held after a bi-annual review of the bank's inflation-targeting monetary policy.

(Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve officials are likely to lower borrowing costs for a third-straight meeting this week while also signaling fewer interest-rate cuts next year than previously projected.Most Read from BloombergHow California Sees the World, and ItselfThe US economy has proved more resilient than what officials expected just a few months ago. Recent data shows inflation is coming down more slowly than officials anticipated, and the labor market is not weakening as much as feared. Subs

Prices are higher, but not by a tremendous amount.

Retail sales rose 0.7% in November, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, a solid increase and higher than October's 0.5% gain. Sales jumped 2.6% at auto dealers, driving most of the gain. The boost in spending underscores that the economy is still growing at a healthy pace even with higher interest rates, a trend that could cause the Federal Reserve to lower borrowing costs more slowly next year than they have previously signaled.

Logistics firms say lessons learned from the US-China trade war in 2018 and the changes implemented since may help cushion the blow if Trump makes good on promises to hike tariffs on US imports.

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday.

(Bloomberg) -- Oil fell for a second day after Chinese economic data stoked concerns about demand and equity markets slipped. Most Read from BloombergHow California Sees the World, and ItselfLondon’s Tube Fares Are Set to Rise by 4.6% Next YearWest Texas Intermediate dropped almost 1% to settle near $70 a barrel, while Brent slid to around $73. Equities retreated in most regions, adding to the pressure on crude from weak Chinese refining and retail sales numbers on Monday. Traders are also await

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. could receive up to $15 billion in federal loans to help the utility modernize its power grid and expand clean energy infrastructure across central and northern California, officials announced Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Energy announced a conditional commitment for one of the largest loan guarantees ever under its Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program. The funds would support a portfolio of projects to expand hydropower generation and battery storage, upgrade transmission capacity, and enable virtual power plants throughout PG&E’s service area, the energy department said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in November as households stepped up purchases of motor vehicles and online merchandise, consistent with strong underlying momentum in the economy as the year winds down. The report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday had no impact on expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates on Wednesday for the third time since the U.S. central bank initiated its policy easing cycle in September. Fed officials started a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday.