Equity markets are stronger on the back of financials  - helped by BoJ's plan to steepen the Japanese bond curve - but judging by the strengthening in the Yen, FX markets are non-believers. The lack of additional easing is largely being heralded as a disappointment (no lower NIRP and no increased buying) and many are questioning the kneejerk bounce in stocks (as bank balance sheets face trauma from the 'reverse twist' effect on the long bonds).

Japanese stocks decoupled (but are rolling over...)

and US equities decoupled...

Two Utah congressmen are proposing a bill that would see thousands of acres of indigenous lands turned into oil drilling zones. The legislation would set Native American land rights back over 100 years. The Utah Public Lands Initiative is a proposal that would turn 26 percent of the Ute Tribe’s land into oil and drilling zones. The bill, HR 5780, will be heading to the House of Representatives in a few weeks.

Several leading tea brands in the US and Canada have tested positive for levels of pesticides so high that they significantly exceed the legal limit. Tea produced from around the world has tested positive for dangerous chemicals and pesticides. Some leading tea brands contain enough pesticides to poison and slowly kill you. For many people tea is the ultimate healthy drink of choice not knowing that it could be detrimental to their health. Herbal teas have been enjoyed around the world for thousands of years for their pleasant taste and aroma as well as for their healing properties.

While the BOJ may have disappointed with its latest iteration of monetary policy, now known as "QQE with Curve Control", Asian and European stocks as well as U.S. equity index futures rallied in early trading perhaps on the back of the bounce in the USDJPY which has now completely faded. That said, the BOJ's "Reverse Operation Twist" which hopes to steepen the JGB curve, has provided support to global financial institutions, which are broadly higher.

A man wielding a knife was shot and wounded by security officials outside Israel's embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Speaking to Reuters in a text message, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said the attacker was "wounded before he reached the embassy" adding that "the assailant was shot and wounded by a local security man," he said, adding that all staff at the embassy are safe.