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February 21st - According to the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, the frozen section of the Yellow River in Inner Mongolia began thawing this morning (February 21st) up to the Sanshenggong Hub, 18 days earlier than usual, marking the start of the critical thawing period for the Yellow River. The thawing process was generally smooth, with no major incidents reported.The China Earthquake Networks Center officially determined that a 3.6-magnitude earthquake occurred in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province at 13:24 on February 21, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.February 21 – According to a Nikkei report, a senior Japanese government official stated that the US Supreme Courts ruling that Trumps retaliatory tariffs were invalid will not affect Japans first round of investment projects in the United States. The official stated that these projects, funded by Japans $550 billion investment commitment (in exchange for tariff reductions), are necessary for Japans economic growth and economic security, and also expressed a positive outlook on future investments beyond the second round and subsequent projects.February 21st - According to data from online platforms, the total box office revenue (including pre-sales) for films released during the 2026 Spring Festival has exceeded 4 billion yuan. "Pegasus 3," "Silent Assassination," and "Boonie Bears: The Big Adventure" ranked in the top three.On February 21, South Korea stated that the US Supreme Courts rejection of President Trumps emergency powers to impose tariffs would not undermine the broader trade agreement reached with the United States. The South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy convened an emergency meeting on Saturday to assess the ruling. In a statement, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said the ruling invalidates the current 15% reciprocal tariffs applicable to South Korean goods. While the ruling increases uncertainty for exports to the US, the overall framework of export conditions guaranteed under the Korea-US tariff agreement will remain unchanged. The ministry pledged to take comprehensive measures to protect national interests and South Korean businesses. The ministry stated that industry-specific tariffs imposed on automobiles and steel under other laws remain in effect and are unaffected by the court ruling.

As a result of hawkish RBA minutes, AUD/JPY surges to around 93.00

Alina Haynes

Feb 21, 2023 15:20

As the Reserve Bank of Australia's minutes revealed a hawkish stance, the AUD/JPY pair surged to near 93.00 during the Tokyo session (RBA). The RBA minutes make it plainly clear that higher interest rates are essential because robust consumer demand prevents the Australian inflation rate from decreasing from its peak.

 

According to the minutes, RBA members considered a 50 basis point (bps) increase in interest rates in light of the persistence of inflation. Members of the RBA also remarked that the unemployment rate is at its lowest point in the past fifty years and that the number of job opportunities is astronomically high, which is a source of happiness for consumers who are injecting surplus income into the economy.

 

Aside from this, the Australian economy benefited from improved trade terms and would benefit more from China's openness than a number of other countries. The Chinese government's relaxation of pandemic laws has expanded Australia's trading potential.

 

Philip Lowe, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, anticipates that the cash rate will climb to 3.75 percent over time, with headline inflation decreasing to 4.75 percent by the end of 2023 and returning to approximately 3 percent by the middle of 2025.

 

Previously, S&P Global reported upbeat preliminary Australian PMI (Feb) data. The Manufacturing PMI hit 50.1, above both the consensus forecast of 49.9 and the prior figure of 50.0. The Services PMI increased from 48.4 (estimated) and 48.8 to 49.2. (previously released).

 

About the Japanese Yen, Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stated, "Due to labor demand and inflation, wage growth is predicted. The Japanese Yen has not notably reacted to the preliminary Jibun Bank PMI (Feb) statistics, which were mixed. The Services PMI has risen to 53.6, surpassing both the consensus expectation of 51.5 and the prior figure of 51.1. While the Manufacturing PMI has declined to 47.4 compared to expectations and the previous reading of 48.9, it remains above the 50-point threshold indicating expansion.