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Stock indices in the Asia-Pacific region are recording a moderately bullish session. The Japanese Nikkei 225 is trading up 0.77%, the Australian S&P ASX 200 is gaining 0.05%, and the Kospi is up 1.42%. Stock markets in China are trading higher by about 0.50-0.60%.
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In the first part of today's session after the weekend, there are no major changes in the forex market. The session is calm, with most currency pairs limiting their changes to a range of -0.20 to 0.20%.
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The dollar is not recording significant changes. The most gaining currency today is the Australian dollar. The EURUSD pair is losing 0.05% today to 1.0840.
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New Zealand's December trade balance narrows to a significantly smaller deficit. Expectations for interest rate cuts this year by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand are strengthening, which may lead to an earlier interest rate cut. Trade report details:
- Import: actual 6.26 billion (forecast -, previously 7.23 billion)
- Export: actual 5.94 billion (forecast -, previously 5.99 billion, revision 5.95 billion)
- Trade balance: actual -323 million (forecast -, previously -1,234.0 million)
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On Saturday, North Korea conducted its third military demonstration this year. The exercises included the firing of multiple cruise missiles near an eastern military port, as reported by the Chiefs of Staff of South Korea. The military maneuvers were monitored by South Korean and American intelligence agencies, as reported by agencies from both countries.
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US President Joe Biden announced that three American soldiers were killed and more than 34 were injured in a drone attack on a U.S. military base on the Jordan-Syria border. Biden stated that the attack was organized by "radical militant groups supported by Iran." The U.S. announced that retaliatory actions are planned.
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According to Klaas Knot, a member of the Governing Council, the European Central Bank must be certain of a sustained decline in wages to be able to lower interest rates.
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Meanwhile, Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau stated that the European Central Bank could lower interest rates at any time this year, and all options are open at the upcoming meetings.
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Cryptocurrencies are gaining despite huge supply pressure. Bitcoin is trading 0.50% higher and has risen from a local low of 38,400 USD to 42,200 USD currently.
Today's oil quotes OIL.WIT are gaining 0.30% to 78.30 USD per barrel. The price is in an uptrend since confirming a double bottom formation around 67 USD. Source: xStation 5
