Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
The UK gilts slumped Friday after witnessing a higher-than-expected manufacturing PMI for the month of April. Also, the country’s construction PMI and services PMI, due to be released on May 3 and 4 respectively are also closely awaited by the investors.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilts, jumped 2-1/2 basis points to 1.11 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yields also climbed nearly 3-1/2 basis points to 1.74 percent while the yield on the short-term 2-year traded nearly 1-1/2 basis points higher at 0.08 percent by 10:20 GMT.
April’s manufacturing PMI rose sharply to 57.3 from 54.2 in March, beating both consensus expectations of a decline to 54.0 and forecast of a more measured rise to 54.4. The outturn goes some way to narrowing the divergence that had opened up between the manufacturing PMI and firmer readings from other business surveys including that of the CBI Industrial Trends survey in recent months. The rise pushed the headline index to its highest level since April 2014 and well above its long-term average of 51.6.
Lastly, the majority of global equity markets were firmer in early trade on Tuesday, with investors focusing on stronger than expected US tech industry earnings and easing worries over North Korean after U.S. President Donald Trump left the door open for a meeting with North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un.
Meanwhile, the FTSE 100 rose 0.42 percent or 30.36 points to 7,235.05 by 10:20 GMT, while at 10:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Pound Strength Index remained neutral at 42.55 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
