Colombia and Ecuador Trade War Escalates With Retaliatory Tariffs 
Asian Markets Retreat as Gulf Crisis Fuels Oil Surge and Inflation Fears 
Middle East Conflict Threatens Global Economic Stability, World Bank Warns 
China's Inflation Data Misses Forecasts as Consumer Prices Slow in March 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Ceasefire Doubts Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rebound as Hormuz Disruptions and Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets 
Gold Surges Near 3-Week High as Trump-Iran Ceasefire Eases Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S. Inflation Surges in March as Iran War and Tariffs Drive Prices Higher 
U.S. Futures Dip as Iran Ceasefire Faces Early Challenges 
Trump Slams Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Oil Restrictions Amid Fragile Ceasefire 
Federal Reserve Probes Big Banks Over Private Credit Exposure Amid Growing Systemic Risk Concerns 
Australian government bonds slumped at the start of the week on Monday as investors eye the Federal Reserve interest rate hike this week. Also, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) March meeting minutes will be key release on Tuesday.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, rose 2 basis points to 2.712 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note also jumped 2 basis points to 3.298 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year climbed 11/2 basis points to 1.980 percent by 02:40 GMT.
In the United States, Treasuries saw downward pressure across the curve on Friday, as markets shook off the pullback in February housing starts decreasing -7.0% to 1236K, opting to place greater emphasis on the preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment for March increasing to 102.0, notching its highest reading since January 2004.
From an inflation standpoint, further upward pressure in 1-year expectations from the Michigan survey points to potentially greater support for broader inflation measures moving forward. Markets now look ahead to a lighter flow of data in the week ahead, highlighted by the March FOMC statement on Wednesday (accompanied by updated economic projections and followed by post-statement press conference with Fed Chair Powell).
Additionally, markets receive the current account, existing home sales, Markit US manufacturing/services PMI, durable goods orders and new home sales releases throughout the week, coupled with a 10-year TIPS auction (reopening) on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.29 percent lower at 5,952.5 by 03:15 GMT, while at 03:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained highly bearish at -114.95 (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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