· Dollar firms after U.S. yield spike, hits six-month high versus yen
The U.S. dollar touched a fresh six-month high versus the yen and extended a rebound from a three-year lows to the Aussie on Friday, lifted by a sharp increase in U.S. bond yields overnight.
The dollar index edged up to 90.38, holding on to a 0.2% rise from Thursday, when it rebounded from losses of as much as 0.26% before the bond tender. That leaves it down less than 0.2% for the month, following January’s 0.6% gain.
The greenback was little changed at 106.165 yen after earlier touching 106.43 for the first time since September. It has strengthened 2.8% this year after the first back-to-back monthly increases since mid-2018, putting the yen among the worst performing major currencies in 2021.
The euro slid 0.2% to $1.21475 after touching a seven-week high of $1.22435 on Thursday.
· Japan's January factory output rises for first time in three months, retail sales drop
Japan’s industrial output rose for the first time in three months in January thanks to a pickup in global demand, in a welcome sign for an economy still looking to shake off the drag of the coronavirus pandemic.
But retail sales, a key gauge of consumer spending, posted their second straight month of declines in January as emergency measures taken in response to the pandemic hit consumption.
Official data released on Friday showed factory output advanced 4.2% in January, boosted by sharp rises in production of electronic parts and general-purpose machinery, as well as a smaller increase in car output.
· Japan to end state of emergency for six prefectures this month
The Japanese government said on Friday it would end a state of emergency in all but Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures at the end of this month, a week earlier than scheduled, as new coronavirus cases decline.
· South Korea officially starts COVID-19 vaccination
The first COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea has taken place, as the country kicked off its first-ever nationwide immunization campaign during a virus pandemic.
· Australia lifts ban on Boeing 737 MAX, first in Asia-Pacific region
Australia’s aviation regulator said on Friday it would lift a near two-year ban on flights to and from the country that use the Boeing Co 737 MAX planes, making the country the first in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
· Australia lifts ban on Boeing 737 MAX, first in Asia-Pacific region
Australia’s aviation regulator said on Friday it would lift a near two-year ban on flights to and from the country that use the Boeing Co 737 MAX planes, making the country the first in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
· Myanmar police raid protest district as World Bank halts some payments
Myanmar police launched a crackdown overnight in a neighbourhood of the main city of Yangon to break up a protest against a military-appointed official, as the World Bank said it would not process requests for funds made after the Feb. 1 coup.
· Oil prices drop amid U.S. dollar strength, expectations for supply gains
Oil prices dropped on Friday as a collapse in bond prices led to gains in the U.S. dollar and expectations grew that with oil prices back above pre-pandemic levels, more supply is likely to return to the market.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped 72 cents, or 1.1%, to $62.81 a barrel at 0516 GMT, giving up all of Thursday’s gains.
Brent crude futures for April, which expires on Friday, fell 63 cents, or 0.9%, to $66.25 a barrel, following a 16 cent loss on Thursday. The more active May contract was down 77 cents, or 1.2%, to $65.34 a barrel.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters, Koreaherald, NBCnews
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