Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
The Australian bonds rallied Thursday following prompted by comments by U.S. President Donald Trump on favoring low interest rates made in a newspaper interview published in late U.S. trading.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, slumped 5-1/2 basis points to 2.47 percent, the yield on 15-year note also plunged nearly 5-1/2 basis points to 2.87 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded nearly 2 basis points lower at 1.62 percent by 04:20 GMT.
"I do like a low-interest rate policy," Trump told the Wall Street Journal. Trump also said he likes and respects Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, whose term ends in 2018, although he was critical of her during his presidential campaign, Reuters reported.
Trump's views on the Fed and interest rates, as well as the dollar, came as bonds had traded earlier in a tight range with safe-haven demand tied to international political worries offsetting investor sales to make room for this week's $56 billion in coupon-bearing Treasuries supply, they added.
On the other hand, the Fed officials have signaled the U.S. central bank may raise interest rates twice more by the end of 2017.
Meanwhile, the ASX 200 index traded 0.43 percent lower at 5,869.50 by 04:50GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly AUD Strength Index remained highly bullish at 148.90 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
