The Bank Of Japan’s sudden move into negative interest-rate territory seems to have taken the entire world financial realm by surprise. (We also applaud how they were able to keep it under wraps right up to the announcement.)

After rising dramatically early in the day, crude oil prices are about 4.40% higher in late afternoon trading.

One would think that for equities a temporary hold on Federal Reserve rate hikes would have produced at least a neutral if not positive resonance.