New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Kevin Hassett Says Inflation Is Below Target, Backs Trump’s Call for Rate Cuts 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Australian government bonds rallied on the last trading day of the week Friday, rising more than 6 percent so far this week on growing angst among investors over trade war which would hurt the global economy. Now, markets await the Reserve Bank of Australia’s March meeting minutes.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell 2-1/2 basis points to 2.702 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note dipped 3 basis points to 3.277 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year down 2-1/2 basis points to 1.977 percent by 02:20 GMT.
In the United States, Treasuries were little changed across much of the curve on Thursday, despite downward pressure registered in the short-end. On the data front, markets received a mixed bag, highlighted by solid gains in Empire manufacturing and contrasted by a modest pullback from the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing release.
Meanwhile, markets also saw a modest pullback in initial jobless claims and a further increase in import prices. Markets now look ahead to a milder flow of data to finish off the week on Friday, highlighted by housing starts/building permits, industrial production/capacity utilization and University of Michigan consumer sentiment releases, though none is likely to have a lasting impact on the economic outlook (or outlook for interest rates).
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.10 percent higher at 5,928.5 by 02:30 GMT, while at 03:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained neutral at -67.18 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
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