Belgian prime minister said the US remains NATO's most important partner and that this will not change because of a single president's criticism.

KIUCHI said the government will not preemptively convey to the Bank of Japan any preferences on the timing, pace or direction of its policy adjustments.

New York Fed Open Market Account manager Perli said reserve-management purchase operations have no preset path; the Desk can raise or cut purchases depending on money-market conditions. She said the Desk is ready to implement any balance-sheet or rate-control changes the Committee may decide after Fed chair Kevin Warsh appointed a working group on the Fed’s balance sheet. The Fed began reserve-management purchases in December to offset an expected sharp April reserve drain from tax inflows into the Treasury general account, which reduce banking system reserves as Treasury balances at the Fed rise.