Central banks in advanced and developing countries are adopting expansionary monetary policy stance in order to stimulate economic growth. The move, which now tends towards a global unanimity, is, however, creating initial benefits for Nigeria, even as it remains cautious in joining fully the monetary policy bandwagon.

Japan's central bank Thursday maintained its ultra-loose monetary easing policy and said it was not looking for an exit strategy, even as the US central bank hikes interest rates.

Japan's central bank on Tuesday kept its ultra-loose monetary policy in place, tamping down investor expectations of a move towards an exit from crisis-era stimulus in line with the trend in other major economies.

The Bank of Japan kept its ultra-loose monetary policy in place Thursday as inflation remains stubbornly low in the world's third-biggest economy, bucking a trend of gradually tighter policy in major economies.

Oil prices turned positive after earlier falling to a two-month low on Wednesday as government data showed a ninth consecutive decline in crude stockpiles.