The Japanese yen held against the US dollar on Thursday, after the Bank of Japan’s decision and monetary policy statement.

Bank of Japan's policymakers voted to maintain rates at negative 0.10% as expected, amid expectations that the world's third largest economy will gather more growth momentum and will recover from the coronavirus impact faster than expected.

The Bank of Japan also kept the size of the asset purchases program unchanged, which was expected by 44 economic analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

The markets are anticipating Joe Biden's first decisions as US President, especially the new US political, economic and trade polices.

As of  21:16 GMT, USD/JPY held at 103.5, and hit a high of 103.6 and a low of 103.3.

US stock indices rose on Thursday, lifted by the tech sector's rebound, with Nasdaq and S&P 500 closing at new historic highs, while Dow Jones closed flat.

President Joe Biden started his presidential term by taking a series of decisions, including the US rejoining the World Health Organization and the Paris climate change agreement, in addition to the recently announced $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill to support the US economy from the coronavirus crisis impact.

The initial unemployment claims in the US fell to 900,000 last week, beating forecasts of 935,000.

Biden's US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen has confirmed that the new administration will not weaken the US dollar against other currencies, adding the US intends to punish countries that manipulate their currencies.

To the oil market, WTI crude February futures fell 0.3% or 18 cents, and closed at $53.13 a barrel, after hitting a day high of $53.4 and a low of $52.7.

Brent March futures rose less than 0.1% or 2 cents, and closed at $56.10 a barrel, after hitting a high of $56.2 and a low of $55.4.

As for stocks, Dow Jones fell less than 0.1% or 12 points, and closed at 31,176 points, with a day high of 31,272 and a low of 31,020 points.

Nasdaq rose 0.5% or 73 points to 13,530, after hitting a day high of 13,560 and a low of 13,454 points.

S&P 500 rose less than 0.1% or 1 point to 3,853 points, after hitting a day high of 3,861 and a low of 3,846 points.

Gold prices fell on Thursday, despite the US dollar's drop against most of its major peers, as gold was weighed down by the US stocks rally to record highs.

Biden was sworn into office on Wednesday to become the US President for the next 4 years, and he plans on taking key decisions including the recently announced $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill to support the US economy from the coronavirus crisis impact.

The initial unemployment claims in the US fell to 900,000 last week, beating forecasts of 935,000.

Biden's US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen has confirmed that the new administration will not weaken the US dollar against other currencies, adding the US intends to punish countries that manipulate their currencies.

The dollar index fell against a basket of major currencies by 0.3% to 90.1 points as of 19:52 GMT, after hitting a high of 90.4 points and a low of 90.05 points.

Gold February futures fell less than 0.1% or 60 cents, and closed at $1,865.90 an ounce, with today’s high at $1,874.6, and the low at $1,857.5.

Silver futures closed higher on Thursday, as the US dollar fell against most of its peers, despite a rebound in stock markets and upbeat economic data.

Biden was sworn into office on Wednesday to become the US President for the next 4 years, and he plans on taking key decisions including the recently announced $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill to support the US economy from the coronavirus crisis impact.

The initial unemployment claims in the US fell to 900,000 last week, beating forecasts of 935,000.

Biden's US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen has confirmed that the new administration will not weaken the US dollar against other currencies, adding the US intends to punish countries that manipulate their currencies.

The dollar index fell against a basket of major currencies by 0.3% to 90.1 points as of 21:18 GMT, after hitting a high of 90.4 points and a low of 90.05 points.

Silver March futures rose 0.3% or 9 cents, and closed at $25.854 an ounce, with today’s high at $25.854, and the low at $25.700.