(Reuters) -Unilever raised prices by over 8% in the first quarter and warned more hikes were on the way as the maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream lifted its cost inflation forecast for the second half of the year due to the Ukraine conflict.

TOKYO (Reuters) -The Bank of Japan on Thursday strengthened its commitment to maintain its massive stimulus programme and a pledge to keep interest rates ultra-low, triggering a fresh sell-off in the yen and sending government bonds rallying.

(Reuters) -European shares rallied in morning trade on Thursday, as forecast-beating results from companies including energy major TotalEnergies and automaker Volvo helped set aside worries about slowing global economic growth.

Russia's Gazprom expects about a 4% fall in gas output this year, Deputy Chief Executive Vitaly Markelov told an inhouse magazine on Thursday, in another sign of the impact of sanctions on Russia.

Gold prices fell to a 10-week low on Thursday, as an elevated U.S. dollar hurt demand for greenback-priced bullion, while an impending Federal Reserve interest rate hike also dented the metal's appeal as an inflation hedge.

China's Huawei Technologies said on Thursday its first-quarter revenues slipped 13.9% from a year earlier, with new business areas yet to reverse the company's waning fortunes brought about by being placed on a U.S. sanctions blacklist.