World markets were poised to rally Thursday after the Federal Reserve surprised some experts by announcing a modest reduction, or tapering, in its bond buying program.
Some market watchers had been holding out hope that the Fed would announce tapering after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's tenure ends in January. But the job market has been improving and Bernanke cnn money.com/2013/12/18/news/economy/federal-reserve-taper/index.html">told reporters on Wednesday that he and other Fed officials -- including current vice chair and Bernanke successor Janet Yellen -- believe the economy will continue to create jobs.
The Fed said it will reduce its monthly purchases of mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasuries to $75 billion per month, down from $85 billion, beginning in January.
U.S. stocks surged on the news Wednesday afternoon, with the Dow and S&P 500 finishing at new closing highs. Japan's Nikkei index was up 1.5% in early trading Thursday, while Australia's ASX All Ordinaries index was up 1% and Taiwan's TSEC 50 rose 0.7%.
Related: Why tapering could be good for stocks
The Fed has been buying bonds since 2008 and many investors say the liquidity boost has been the main driver of the bull market in stocks since 2009. The Fed's decision also can be interpreted as a sign the economy is back on its feet and no longer needs as much stimulus as it once did.
Bernanke said Wednesday that the Fed could take "further measured steps" to reduce its holdings, but he stressed that it will continue buying bonds "at a rapid pace" after the taper. He also said the Fed expects to hold interest rates at historic lows past the point when the unemployment rate falls to 6%. 
First Published: December 18, 2013: 8:41 PM ET
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