China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
The Japanese government bonds traded in a tight range on Thursday as investors await the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) two-day monetary policy meeting, due to be concluded on March 9 will add further direction to the debt market.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, traded flat at 0.05 percent, the yield on the long-term 30-year note rose 1/2 basis point to 0.75 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year traded 1/2 basis point higher at -0.15 percent by 04:50 GMT.
Japan's economy expanded more than initially estimated in October-December due to an upward revision of capital expenditure and inventory data, confirming an eighth consecutive quarter of growth. The economy grew an annualised 1.6 percent in October-December, versus economists' median estimate for 0.9 percent annualised growth and the preliminary reading of a 0.5 percent expansion, Cabinet Office data showed on Thursday.
Moreover, in the latest Reuters poll found that the Bank of Japan is expected to keep its short-term interest rate at minus 0.1 percent and the 10-year government bond yield target at around zero percent when policymakers meet on March 8-9.
Meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 index traded 0.42 percent higher at 21,341.50 by 04:50 GMT, while at 04:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly JPY Strength Index remained highly bearish at -119.64 (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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