Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan had previously said he expected the economy to grow at a 4% to 5% annualized pace

The full court Fed press for more government spending came as Republicans appeared reluctant to spend much more than the $3 trillion Congress had already committed to bolstering the economy in the face of the virus

Coronavirus impact: Companies are responding by having employees work from home and take other steps to curb coronavirus' spread though such measures also could slow economic activity

Asian shares edged up on Tuesday,bolstered by gains on Wall Street as investors awaited a speech by U.S.President Donald Trump for signals on tax reform and infrastructure spending.

Financial stocks lifted the S&P 500 to a record closing high for a fourth consecutive session on Tuesday and the dollar strengthened as US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen struck a hawkish tone on the timing of an interest rate hike.

The dollar stumbled against major currencies overnight after U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisor Michael Flynn quit under scrutiny over whether he discussed the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia before Trump took office.

Asian shares inched to 19-month highs on Tuesday as the potential for economic stimulus in the United States lifted the dollar, bond yields and Wall Street stocks.

The buying sentiments were also boosted by an easing dollar and a rally in oil prices, ahead of an extended holiday weekend in the United States, analysts said.

Asian shares weakened on Wednesday after strong US inflation data and comments from Federal Reserve officials rekindled prospects of the central bank raising rates later this year.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda also repeated that the central bank would ease policy further if needed, but the market seems to doubt he can do much more.

Spot gold was down 0.3 per cent at $1,259.50 an ounce by 0210 GMT, after rallying nearly 2 per cent on Thursday when it hit $1,267.06, its strongest since Feb. 6, 2015. It has gained 3 per cent for the week.

Gold's 16 per cent rally this year has been fuelled by safe-haven bids as global equities tumbled. The metal hit a one-year top of $1,260.60 two weeks ago.

Harvard Business School professor Robert S. Kaplan evolved a performance metric, the Balanced Scorecard, for businesses. He spoke to Business Today's Manu Kaushik on a recent visit to India.

Narayan Krishnamurthy picks some bestsellers that have helped people the world over chalk out a retirement plan.

A global downturn, job cuts, shrinking markets— and you haven't been reading? Whether you are a busy CEO or a trainee manager, here's a nutrient-rich spread of business classics. Here are top-selling business books of the five leading publishing houses, not listed in the order of sales.