It's been a rollercoaster 24 hours on global stock markets, with huge swings on Wall Street and volatility hitting its highest level since October 2020. Investors are waiting for the decision from the US Federal Reserve on when it will start raising interest rates, but are also concerned about the rising tensions at Ukraine's border. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has slumped as low as $33,000, down over 50 percent from its peak in November. Our Business Editor Stephen Carroll has the details.

The US Federal Reserve is setting the stage to raise interest rates in March, to combat elevated inflation. It's also taking further steps to phase out its emergency support of the US economy. Nancy Vanden Houten, Lead US Economist at Oxford Economics, says America's central bank has limited tools to fight the surge in prices. Also in the show - workers at France's EDF go on strike, over government efforts to limit electricity bills.

Stock markets slumped in Asia on Thursday and European shares started the day's trading in the red, after signals from the US Federal Reserve that it could raise interest rates more than three times in 2022. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank's policy committee was "of a mind" to start raising rates in March, and that it would be guided by the economic data. FRANCE 24's Business Editor Stephen Carroll looks at market reaction to the announcements.

The United States Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time since 2018, as it tries to cool inflation, which is running at the highest level in 40 years. The Chair of the central bank, Jerome Powell, said the implications of the Russian invasion were "highly uncertain", pointing to the risk of disruption to supply chains. Also today, we look at details of the French government's plan to ease the economic impact of the war in Ukraine.

The Fed raises interest rates by the most in over 20 years The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point Wednesday, in an effort to cool off demand and lower inflation. Consumer prices have been rising at the fastest pace in 40 years.

The central bank has announced a 0.5% interest rate hike — its highest increase in more than 20 years. The US move comes as a number of other countries cut lending rates to deal with rising prices.

It is the fourth month in a row the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee has voted for a rise. Policymakers are currently trying to stem inflation amid high energy prices sparked partly by Russia's war in Ukraine.

After a sell-off on Wall Street, global investors are grappling with price increases and rising borrowing costs. Inflation is particularly brutal in Turkey, and the Greek government unveils a program to protect households from soaring energy prices.

The European Central Bank has left the interest rate unchanged but indicated that it will rise in July — the first hike since 2011. It is also halting a program which ultimately amounts to printing electronic money.

Federal Reserve raises key interest rate 0.75% as it tries to calm inflation. The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it is raising its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, the sharpest hike since 1994, as it seeks to combat the fiercest surge in U.S. inflation in four decades.

Soaring inflation is prompting the bank to raise interest rates from current historic lows. The move could put a brake on rising prices but might also dampen growth.

The Fed added 0.75% to its benchmark interest rate for a second straight time. The increase of the interest rate to its highest level in four years comes as inflation continues to reach new heights.