Markets drift on Putin’s comments

London - Stock markets around the world were flat yesterday as investors digested comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin that indicated yesterday a possible easing to the geopolitical concerns over Ukraine that have recently weighed on global markets. The Russian president said he was ready to discuss a way out of the Ukrainian crisis. Gold, viewed as a safe haven asset, fell 0.8 percent, while the dollar rose slightly against a basket of currencies, though it remained near a six-month low. Market participants also paid close attention to testimony from US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen, who said the US economy was still in need of support from the country’s central bank given the “considerable slack” in the labour market. – Reuters