Fedspeak Dominates Overnight, Support For March Hike Grows

Below gives key levels of markets in the second half of the Asia-Pac session:

• Nikkei 225 down 280.92 points at 28483.86
• ASX 200 up 35.495 points at 7474.4
• Shanghai Comp. down 29.913 points at 3567.519
• JGB 10-Yr future down 1 tick at 151.04, yield down 0.5bp at 0.126%
• Aussie 10-Yr future down 1.0 tick at 98.110, yield up 0.9bp at 1.860%
• U.S. 10-Yr future -0-04+ at 128-14, yield down 0.71bp at 1.736%
• WTI crude down $0.33 at $82.31, Gold up $0.91 at $1827.06
• USD/JPY down 14 pips at Y114.50
• BRAINARD SAYS INFLATION FIGHT IS THE FED’S TOP TASK (MNI)
• FED'S BULLARD: FOUR INTEREST RATE RISES IN 2022 NOW APPEAR LIKELY (WSJ)
• FED’S MESTER SAYS ECONOMY ON TRACK FOR A MARCH RATE RISE (WSJ)
• HARKER OFFICIAL OPEN TO MORE THAN THREE US RATE RISES THIS YEAR (FT)
• FED’S DALY TIPS HAT TO POTENTIAL FOR MARCH RATE HIKE