Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
U.S. Stocks End Week Higher as Tech Rally Offsets Consumer Weakness 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Kevin Hassett Says Inflation Is Below Target, Backs Trump’s Call for Rate Cuts 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
The German bunds plunged Thursday after investors have largely shrugged-off the country’s lower-than-expected services PMI for the month of March and retail sales. Also, Germany’s industrial production for the month of February will add detailed direction to the debt market.
The German 10-year bond yields, which move inversely to its price, jumped nearly 3-1/2 basis points to 0.52 percent, the yield on 30-year note surged 4 basis points to 1.19 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded nearly 1-1/2 basis points higher at -0.57 percent by 10:04GMT.
The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit Germany Services PMI Business Activity Index fell for the second straight month in March to 53.9, down from 55.3 in February and its lowest reading since last August. Nevertheless, thanks to a strong showing in the opening month of the year, when the headline PMI peaked at a near seven-year high, average growth in the first quarter was the greatest since Q3 2014.
Further, the slower increase services business activity in March coincided with a softening of manufacturing production growth to a 15-month low. As such, the final IHS Markit Germany Composite Output Index fell from 57.6 in February to 55.1, its lowest reading since July last year.
Lastly, the country’s monthly retail sales unexpectedly declined in February, data showed on Tuesday, and the third monthly fall in a row signalled that private consumption may remain weak in early 2018 after failing to contribute to growth in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, the German DAX jumped nearly 2 percent to 12,170.14 by 10:05GMT, while at 10:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Euro Strength Index remained neutral at 16.12 (higher than +75 represents bullish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
Lastly, FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest
