LONDON—World shares consolidated a 6-week high on Thursday as investors scented a possible slowdown in the pace of U.S. rate hikes that had comforted bond markets and sent the dollar to a three-week low on the yen.
Europe made an upbeat start as record-busting $11.5 billion profits from oil giant Shell sent commodities shares soaring, although momentum quickly faded ahead of what was expected to be some shaky eurozone confidence data later.
The U.S. Federal Reserve had surprised no one by lifting rates 75 basis points (bps) to 2.25 percent–2.50 percent on Wednesday, but did alter its statement to cite some softening in recent data….