Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Japan’s Finance Minister Signals Alignment With BOJ as Rate Hike Speculation Grows 
U.S. Productivity Growth Widens Lead Over Other Advanced Economies, Says Goldman Sachs 
Bitcoin Defies Gravity Above $93K Despite Missing Retail FOMO – ETF Inflows Return & Whales Accumulate: Buy the Dip to $100K 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Gold’s Best Friend Is Back: Falling Yields Reload the $4,300 Bull Case 
Activity indicators in Q1 so far evidenced that public investment strengthened, partly offsetting weakness in the private sector.
Industrial production grew 5.4% YoY in Q1 so far, down from previous 5.9% gains.
Retail sales growth slowed to 10.2% YoY in Q1 so far, while Fixed asset investment increased 10.2% YoY in the same period.
China’s exports in RMB terms dropped sharply by 20.6% YoY (-25.4% in USD) in February, from 6.6% drop in January (-11.2% in USD).
Imports in RMB terms dropped 8.0% YoY terms (-13.8% in USD) from 14.4% drop previously (-18.8% in USD).
As a result, trade surplus narrowed notably to RMB209.5bn (USD32.59bn) in February.
The CPI picked up to 2.3% YoY in February, from 1.8% in January, largely pumped up by the 5.8% YoY surge in food, tobacco and liquor.
The PPI fell 4.9% YoY in February, from 5.3% drop in the prior month.
Foreign exchange reserves fell USD28.57bn to USD3.2trn in February, the lowest level since December 2011, however, the decline was smaller than the monthly drop of USD99.5bn in January.
Although CNY gaining from last two months, the above mentioned narrow trade surplus and as a result of domestic consumption (import bills likely increase) which would likely cause upside traction in USDCNY during Q2, hence we like to remain long in mid month futures on hedging grounds.
