Japan Keeps Markets Guessing as Yen Nears 40-Year Low, Raising Intervention Risks 
Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Rebounds Amid Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Rally Pauses, South Korean Chipmakers Lead Regional Decline 
Wall Street Slides as AI Stocks Tumble Following South Korea Tech Sell-Off 
Gold Prices Mixed as Stronger Dollar Offsets Safe-Haven Demand Amid U.S.-Iran Peace Talks 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Supply Concerns 
100+ Global Companies Push Governments to Prioritize Electrification for Economic Growth 
South Korea Remains MSCI Emerging Market Despite Reform Progress 
The Australian bonds remained flat during Asian session of the last trading day of the week Friday as investors remained side-lined in a muted session that witnessed data of little economic significance amid overall positive sentiments in the market.
The yield on Australia’s benchmark 10-year note, which moves inversely to its price, hovered around 1.186 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year bond remained flat at 1.796 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year lost barely 1 basis point to trade at 0.780 percent by 04:15GMT.
Economic optimism fuelled the overnight rally in financial markets, as investors digested the news of the passage of the USMCA agreement and the strong US retail sales data, following the earlier signing of the US-China Phase one trade deal, OCBC Treasury Research reported.
"Asian markets may start on a positive tone this morning, while awaiting China’s key 4Q19 GDP data release where market is eyeing a steady 6 percent handle and its accompanying data dump of industrial production, retail sales, fixed asset investments etc.," the report added.
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded tad -0.16 percent down at 7,017.50 by 04:25GMT.
