Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise as Weak Yen and Strong U.S. Jobs Data Increase Pressure 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
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Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
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Supreme Court Backs Lisa Cook, Defends Federal Reserve Independence Against Trump Firing Attempt 
Taiwan Central Bank Likely to Keep Interest Rates Unchanged Through 2027 
BOJ Raises Interest Rates to 1% as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Data released earlier today showed euro area headline inflation fell back in February to a one-year low of -0.2% y/y, while core inflation slowed to 0.7% from 1.0%. February's drop in euro-zone CPI inflation back into negative territory piles pressure on the ECB to deploy more stimulus at next week's council meeting.
Data liekly causes causes jitters at the ECB, which fears "second round effects from the oil price decline" because trade unions would in the future demand fewer wage increases due to the lower energy prices, which are increasingly reflected also in the core rate of inflation. The ECB Council may now decide rather more than fewer additional expansionary measures next week.
Societe Generale Economics forecasts 20bp cut in the deposit rate, introduction of two-tier interest rate charge on excess reserves, extension of the 3y TLTRO at March ECB meet.
