Kiuchi, Japan's minister of economic and fiscal policy, said he did not at the June meeting seek to have the Bank of Japan postpone a rate hike.

The Baltic Dry Index fell for a ninth straight session on Thursday, down 122 points (4.57%) to 2,545, its lowest since June 30. The capesize index dropped 308 points (-8.48%) to 3,322, the weakest since early April; capesize average daily earnings fell $2,792 to $26,625. The panamax index fell 53 points (-2.20%) to 2,356; panamax average daily earnings declined $480 to $21,200. The supramax index rose 11 points (0.60%) to 1,856.

ICI: U.S. money market fund total assets fell $40.46 bln in the week ended Oct 14 to $7.92 tln.