U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Fed Chair Jerome Powell Over Headquarters Renovation 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C. 
RBA Deputy Governor Says November Inflation Slowdown Helpful but Still Above Target 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to maintain the policy rate at 3 percent throughout this year, peering through the inflation ascent. At the same time, the still fragile balance of payments position limits the scope for rate cuts to bolster growth, ANZ Research reported.
On-year inflation climbed higher in February, owing to a 31 percent y/y average increase in domestic fuel prices and the attendant knock-on impact on transport costs. Transport costs rose 17.9 percent y/y in February, from January’s 8.3 percent.
While headline inflation is expected to spike, the magnitude of increase was larger than market expectations. During the month, core inflation, which excludes volatile items of fresh food and goods and services whose prices are administered, also firmed up to 2.5 percent y/y, from 1.8 percent y/y previously.
However, growth dynamics hardly point to the emergence of strong demand-pull inflationary pressures.
