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(Bloomberg) -- Palm oil advanced for a second day thanks to strong demand from the world’s biggest buyer, India, and a weaker Malaysian currency, which made the tropical oil more attractive for overseas buyers.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, Fi

(Bloomberg) -- Equities in Japan and China advanced, following gains on Wall Street, as investors cheered a string of encouraging economic data points from the world’s three largest economies.Most Read from BloombergManchester Is Giving London a Run for Its MoneyBoston’s Broke and Broken Transit System Hurts Downtown RecoveryA Warehouse Store Promises Housing for South LA, in BulkBiden Invests $100 Million to Fuel Housing ConstructionJohannesburg Mayor Quits Amid Infighting, Financial WoesJapan’

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The dollar was soft on Thursday, with the euro perched near an eight-month high after data showed U.S. inflation was slowing, underpinning wagers that the Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs next month. Bouts of intervention from Tokyo early last month and then a surprise rate hike from the Bank of Japan at the end of July wrong-footed investors who bailed out of popular carry trade, lifting the yen. In the U.S., data on Wednesday showed the consumer price index rose moderately, in line with expectations, and the annual increase in inflation slowed to below 3% for the first time since early 2021.

This week, and this month, are once again showing that data is king, with investors parsing recent economic releases for clues on the likely pace of interest cuts at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. Potential flashpoints for policy expectations loom for the currency markets on Thursday, when U.S. retail sales and Britain's GDP are due for release. Mild readings for U.S. inflation this week have cemented market certainty that the Fed will lower borrowing costs in September for the first time in 4 1/2 years, but debate still rages over whether policy makers will opt for a super-sized 50 basis-point reduction or a more standard quarter-point cut.

"I'm open to something happening in terms of us moving before the fourth quarter," Bostic told the newspaper. Bostic's comments are a step ahead of his comments earlier this week where he said he wants to see "a little more data" before he's ready to support lowering interest rates. U.S. consumer prices rose moderately in July and the annual increase in inflation slowed to below 3% for the first time in nearly 3-1/2 years, opening the door wider for the Federal Reserve to cut rates next month.

“Snacking is very driven by impulse. It's very driven traditionally, by indulgence,” one analyst said.