Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Australian government bonds traded fairly mixed on the first trading day of 2018 as investors remain sidelined in any major trading activity amid a silent session that witnessed no data of major economic significance.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell 1 basis point to 2.662 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note dipped 1 basis point to 3.367 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year rose 1 basis point to 2.000 percent by 03:30 GMT.
The Australian manufacturing sector is experiencing "marked expansion", driven in part by new business from Asia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, a survey shows. New orders placed with Australian manufacturers increased sharply during December, reaching the quickest pace in 13 months. The Commonwealth Bank Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 57.1 in December, from 56.3 in November, the highest reading in a year.
Also, China December manufacturing PMI slipped to 51.6, in line with consensus estimates, compared to 51.8 in November. Further, non-manufacturing rose to 55.0 (expectation was for 54.7), from prior 54.8.
The United States Treasuries saw modest gains across the curve on Friday during a relatively quiet end of year session light on data of any great significance. Markets now look ahead to what stands to be a significantly more robust holiday-shortened week ahead, highlighted by minutes from the 12-13 December FOMC meeting on Wednesday and the December employment report on Friday.
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index traded 0.35 percent lower at 5,996.5 by 03:30 GMT, while at 03:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained highly bullish at 115.59 (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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