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South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
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The Japanese government bonds suffered Thursday even as investors expect to see a fall in the country’s household spending for the month of February, scheduled to be released today by 23:30GMT. It is seen to come in at 0.3 percent y/y, from 2.0 percent y/y in January and at -0.36 percent y/y, from prior 2.7 percent y/y.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, rose 1/2 basis point to 0.03 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note jumped 1-1/2 basis points to 0.72 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year hovered around -0.13 percent by 04:50 GMT.
With China responding to US’ tariff proposals with a tit-for-tat USD50 billion of reciprocal tariffs (including airplanes, automobiles and soybeans), financial markets were clearly unnerved by the prospect of a trade war yesterday afternoon.
Asian bourses may attempt to recoup yesterday’s declines but possibly tread water today awaiting further news flow on the US-China trade tensions.
Meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 index jumped nearly 2.0 percent to 21,694.00 by 04:55 GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly JPY Strength Index remained neutral at -57.03 (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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