Yen continues to trade higher in calm markets. DOW closed up 0.16% at 24640.45 overnight as consolidation continued. Nikkei also opened higher initial trading but turns flat since then. Hong Kong HSI is up 0.75% in thin trading ahead of lunar new year holidays. While USD/JPY dip extended recent decline, EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY are held by the temporary lows established earlier. The greenback remains one of the weakest and will look into CPI and retail sales from US today for inspirations.
Fed Powell: Global economy recovering strongly
New Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in his swearing-in ceremony yesterday that the global economy is "recovering strongly for the first time in a decade." Fed is in the progress of "gradually normalizing both interest rate policy and our balance sheet with a view to extending the recovery and sustaining the pursuit of our objectives." And, he would purse monetary policy "without concern for short-term political pressures." Additionally, Powell pledged to "preserve the essential gains in financial regulation while seeking to ensure that our policies are as efficient as possible."
Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House is considering to nominate Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester for Vice Fed Chair. On the other hand, CNBC reported that San Francisco Fed President John Williams was also being considered for the post.
ECB Draghi: Not his job to regulate Bitcoin
ECB President Mario Draghi said it's "not the ECB's responsibility" to regulate Bitcoins. He acknowledge the blockchain technology as "quite promising" that could bring "many benefits". But he warned that "it's still not secure for central banking and therefore we need to look through it and investigate it more." And when asked by the public on whether he should buy Bitcoin, Draghi said "frankly i would think it carefully".
NAB predicts two RBA hikes this year
NAB chief economist said in a note that he forecasts RBA to hike twice this year, in August and November. He noted that "lower unemployment, and evidence of wages growth moving upwards - even gradually - should be enough to give the RBA confidence that inflation will eventually lift above the bottom of the band." However, higher AUD exchange rate could threaten this outlook.
On the data front
Japan GDP rose 0.1% qoq in Q4, below expectation of 0.2% qoq. GDP deflator rose 0.01% yoy. Australia Westpac consumer confidence dropped -2.3% in February. Eurozone and Germany GDP will be the main focus in European session where Eurozone industrial production will also be featured Later in the day, US CPI and retail sales will be the main focus.