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Consumer inflation in Tokyo likely slowed down in February as the government reinstated steps to ease the burden from energy bills as higher living costs haunt persistent inflation presser, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. The core consumer price index (CPI) in Tokyo, a leading indicator of nationwide price trends, was seen rising 2.3% year-on-year this month, slowing down from a 2.5% gain in January, the median forecast of 16 economists found. "While food prices continue to rise, the pace of increase in core CPI is expected to slow due to lower electricity and gas prices led by the resumption of government support," said Shunpei Fujita, economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled a readiness to intervene in the bond market to quell a surge in yields, reiterating the central bank’s commitment to supporting stability as the prime minister and finance minister voiced concerns about the potential impact of higher borrowing costs.Most Read from BloombergTrump to Halt NY Congestion Pricing by Terminating ApprovalTrump Targets $128 Billion California High-Speed Rail ProjectAirbnb Billionaire Offers Pre-Fab Homes for LA F

Wall Street is pulling further from its record after reports on Friday showed worries about President Donald Trump's policies may be hitting the U.S. economy. Stock indexes pulled back following a series of weaker-than-expected reports on the economy. “Companies report widespread concerns about the impact of federal government policies, ranging from spending cuts to tariffs and geopolitical developments,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump told Republican governors that implementing his agenda was key to their own political futures, arguing that embracing it could mitigate or even prevent losses in the midterm elections.Most Read from BloombergTrump to Halt NY Congestion Pricing by Terminating ApprovalTrump Targets $128 Billion California High-Speed Rail ProjectAirbnb Billionaire Offers Pre-Fab Homes for LA Fire VictimsSorry, Kids: Disney’s New York Headquarters Is for Grown-UpsTrump Asserts P

(Bloomberg) -- Australia’s central bank is closely monitoring the state of the labor market as persistent tightness may signal a stronger economy, Governor Michele Bullock said, adding that policymakers aren’t “pre-committed” to any path for interest rates.Most Read from BloombergTrump to Halt NY Congestion Pricing by Terminating ApprovalTrump Targets $128 Billion California High-Speed Rail ProjectAirbnb Billionaire Offers Pre-Fab Homes for LA Fire VictimsSorry, Kids: Disney’s New York Headquart

Oil prices fell on Friday but were still poised for a weekly gain on supply disruption in Russia while uncertainty looms over a potential peace deal in Ukraine. Brent futures slipped by 62 cents, or 0.81%, to $75.86 a barrel by 1304 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 63 cents, or 0.87%, to $71.85. The market has taken a relatively neutral yet nervous stance on crude oil prices, said Ole Hansen at Saxo Bank, with Brent trading near the middle of the expected range for the year, between $65 and $85 a barrel.

"With investors on edge on the post-holiday slowdown, WMT's comp shortfall vs. expectations touches a high anxiety point," said JPMorgan.