– US indices finished yesterday’s trading lower. S&P 500 dropped 0.88%, Dow Jones moved 0.73% lower and Nasdaq slumped 1.02%. Russell 2000 plunged 1.40%

– Indices from Asia-Pacific traded mostly lower today. Nikkei rose 0.26%, S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.75%, Nifty 50 moved 0.25% lower and Kospi fell 0.66%. Indices from China traded lower as well

– DAX futures point to a lower opening of the European cash session today

– ECB’s Nagel said decisive monetary policy action is necessary to reduce the risk of an unanchoring of long-term inflation expectations

– Ukraine – heavy shelling reported in Kharkiv

– BoJ Gov. Kuroda said the benefits of easing are greater than side effects

– BOJ’s Amamiya sees no need now to make yield curve control more flexible. In his opinion its appropriate to maintain current ultra-loose monetary policy

– Japan PPI in January 0.0% m/m vs. expected 0.3%

– RBA revises up forecasts for core inflation and expects that further increases in interest rates will be needed 

– China’s inflation rose to 2.1% YoY in January from 1.8% in December, compared with market forecasts of 2.2%

– Cryptocurrencies are trading slightly higher, trying to erase yesterday’s heavy losses. Bitcoin gains 0.3%,  Ethereum adds 0.7%

– Energy commodities fell slightly with both Brent and WTI trading over 0.20% lower today

– Precious metals lose some ground amid stronger USD. Gold fell 0.2% while silver erased early losses and trades flat

– USD and CAD are the best performing major currencies while EUR and AUD lag the most