Wall Street Today | Coal benchmark jumps 46% as Ukraine war stokes supply fears

Asia-Pacific stocks rose Thursday while bonds fell as traders digested comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pointing to a measured interest-rate liftoff, vigilance on inflation and economic resilience.

Australian shares climbed, while futures for Japan and Hong Kong signaled a positive start. U.S. contracts were steady after a broad rally lifted the S&P 500 and technology-heavy Nasdaq 100.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell backed a quarter-point interest-rate hike this month to commence a series of increases and didn't rule out a larger move at some stage, despite uncertainty caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Fed officials are pivoting to tackle the fastest inflation in 40 years and a few have publicly discussed the potential need to hike by a half point some time this year if inflation comes in too hot. They get February data on consumer prices on March 10, five days before they start their next policy meeting.

Benchmark thermal coal in Asia, the largest market for the fuel, soared 46% to a record as concerns about disruption to supplies from Russia turbocharge concerns over tight energy markets.

Futures for high-quality thermal coal loaded on ships at Newcastle port in Australia jumped to $446 a ton Wednesday, adding $140.55 in a single day and rising to the highest in data back to 2008, according to ICE Futures Europe.

The Ukrainian government has raised $35 million, through more than 35,000 cryptoasset donations since the start of the Russian invasion, according to Elliptic, a blockchain analytics company.

Cryptocurrencies have become a prominent feature of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The event, with the tagline "Peek Performance," will be streamed digitally on YouTube and Apple's website. Apple's launch affairs have been virtual since March 2020.

Inflation is everywhere. You've probably seen higher costs for beef, electricity and rent. Now it's coming for your digital subscriptions too.

Some cryptocurrency and nonfungible-token startups are offering pay packages with larger cash components than long-established tech companies in the hunt for workers, according to some tech recruiters.

The car maker said Wednesday that it , Ford Model e, to house the small and unprofitable, but fast-growing, EV business responsible for the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.