Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
The Australian government bonds suffered during Asian session Friday tracking a similar movement in the U.S. Treasuries after a 7-year auction failed to draw sufficient investor demand amid signs of easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
The yield on Australia’s benchmark 10-year note, which moves inversely to its price, edged 1-1/2 basis points higher to 0.889 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year bond rose 1 basis point to 1.479 percent while the yield on short-term 2-year remained flat at 0.724 percent by 04:55GMT.
Global risk sentiment improved on Thursday in hopes that the US and China will restart trade talks. China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson said although China had ample countermeasures, China prefers to hold dialogue and would much rather focus on removing existing tariffs, OCBC Treasury Research reported.
Further, China also remains open to the previously planned face-to-face meeting in September. President Trump said later that trade talks are scheduled on Thursday at a different level.
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.72 percent to 6,572.50 by 05:00GMT.
