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The Australian and New Zealand dollars were clinging to support on Thursday as the risk of early Federal Reserve rate hikes roiled global markets to the benefit of the U.S. currency.

The Canadian dollar strengthened against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday as oil prices rebounded and domestic data showed manufacturing activity expanding at a still-robust pace in November in spite of supply bottlenecks.

Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Thursday to log their sharpest weekly plunge in more than three months, weighed down by uncertainties over the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a holiday-shortened week.

European stock indexes fell on Thursday, reversing gains from the previous session as a lack of information about the Omicron coronavirus variant left markets volatile, but Wall Street futures pointed to a slightly stronger open in the U.S. session.

Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, lifted by higher crude prices as investors adjusted positions ahead of a meeting of key producers, although gains were capped by concerns over the Omicron coronavirus variant threatening global recovery.

The Dow and the S&P 500 were set to rise on Thursday, led by gains in planemaker Boeing and travel stocks, although increasing cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant across the world continued to drive volatility in markets.

This finding suggests public health efforts will have to address the treatment barriers these men face – like poverty or homophobia – to meet the nation’s goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.

Oil prices rose on Thursday, recouping the previous day's losses, as investors adjusted positions ahead of an OPEC+ decision over supply policy, but gains were capped amid fears the Omicron coronavirus variant will hurt fuel demand.

China's property downturn is expected to continue into the first half of 2022, with home prices and sales falling as tight credit policies and a looming property tax dampen demand, a Reuters poll showed.

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