RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 
Jerome Powell Attends Supreme Court Hearing on Trump Effort to Fire Fed Governor, Calling It Historic 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Lots of economic dockets and events scheduled for today and some with high volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- Australia: Consumer inflation expectation marginally declines to 4 percent in March from 4.1 percent in February. Unemployment rate touched 5.9 percent as February saw 6,400 jobs loss.
- Japan: BoJ kept interest rates steady at -0.1 percent.
- Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s VVD party is set to win most seats. So far they have won 33 seats, much higher than 20 for Mr. Geert Wilders’ PVV.
Upcoming:
- Japan: BoJ press conference at 5:30 GMT.
- Switzerland: SNB will announce interest rate decision at 8:30 GMT.
- Eurozone: Consumer price inflation numbers for February will be reported at 10:00 GMT.
- United Kingdom: BoE will announce interest rate decision at 12:00 GMT.
- United States: Housing starts data for February will be reported at 12:30 GMT, along with building permits numbers and weekly jobless claims report and followed by JOLTS jobs report. EIA will release weekly inventory report at 14:30 GMT.
