Lee Seung-heon Signals Caution on Rate Hikes, Supports Higher Property Taxes to Cool Korea’s Housing Market 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
The UK gilts plunge on expectations that the country’s manufacturing production will witness a rebound during the month of February. Also, market participants are curiously eyeing the Bank of England (BoE) Governor Mark Carney’s speech scheduled to be held on April 7.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, which moves inversely to its price, climbed 1 basis point to 1.09 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields jumped 2 basis points to 1.71 percent while the yield on the short-term 3-year traded 1/2 basis point higher at 0.23 percent by 09:10 GMT.
Earlier this week, the headline seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Services PMI Business Activity Index picked up from 53.3 in February to 55.0 in March, and therefore above the 50.0 no-change value for the eighth consecutive month. Moreover, the latest reading signalled a marked increase in business activity and the fastest pace of expansion since December 2016. This signalled a marked rebound from the five-month low seen in February.
"Much of the disappointment in growth so far this year has been evident in consumer-oriented sectors, in part linked to spending and incomes being squeezed by higher prices," said Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist, IHS Markit.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 fell 0.58 percent or 41.73 points to 7,289.95 by 09:40 GMT, while at 09:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained neutral at -46.22 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
