Halister News

(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia’s rupiah and Thailand’s baht advance as some emerging markets in Asia remain shut for Lunar New Year holiday; sovereign bonds rise in Japan, while most regional interest-rate swaps are steady.

• Japan’s 10-year yield stays in negative territory; nation’s producer-price index dropped 3.1% in January from a year earlier, more than median estimate for 2.8% decline; Investment Trusts Association and fund managers are asking BOJ not to apply negative rates on money reserve funds to be deposited with the central bank’s current account, NHK reports; nation’s economy is firm, and stock declines are due to global factors: Prime Minister Abe
• Aussie weakens; Australia’s consumer confidence gained 4.2% in February from a month earlier to 101.3; private new-home sales increased 6% in December after dropping 2.7% in November; weakness in commodity prices far greater than expected, and jobs growth may be overstated: Treasury Secretary Fraser
• Kiwi drops; would expect inflation to move toward the middle of the target band in the medium term: New Zealand Associate Finance Minister Joyce
• U.S. Treasuries rise, with yield on 10-year bonds dropping 3 bps to 1.702%; Fed Chair Yellen appears before House Financial Services Committee later in global day
• Rupee’s one-month forwards steady; investors will understand if Prime Minister Modi deviates slightly from path to narrow India’s budget shortfall to boost growth, former central bank governor Bimal Jalan says
• Peso strengthens; Philippine exports slipped 3.0% in December from prior year compared with forecast 1.0% gain
• Onshore financial markets remain shut for public holidays in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea

CURRENCY TECHNICALS:

• Click here to see pivot point and multiple support as well as resistance points for majors/Asian currencies