The Antipodeans have modestly outperformed....>

FOREX: The Antipodeans have modestly outperformed their G10 peers thus far, with

NZD marginally ahead of its Antipodean cousin, seemingly drawing support from

optimism re: the ongoing Sino-U.S. trade negotiations in the wake of yesterday's

warm rhetoric surrounding the ongoing talks. Elsewhere, RBA Gov Lowe testified

to Australian lawmakers, stating that it is "unlikely that rates will go up this

year," but a hike next year "may be appropriate." Lowe then reiterated that the

probability of the direction of the next rate move is evenly balanced.

- JPY trades mixed after it shrugged off domestic CPI figures, which printed at

expected levels. The BoJ-targeted core measure came in at +0.8% vs. +0.7% in

Dec, still nowhere near the central bank's target of 2%.

- Sterling has found itself at the bottom of the G10 pile, with Brexit in focus.

- The G10 currency pairs have generally stuck to tight ranges thus far.

- Focus Friday turns to German IFO survey & GDP (f), EZ CPI (f), Canadian retail

sales & Riksbank's Feb meeting mins. Scheduled central bank rhetoric includes a

plethora of Fed members, inc. the release of the text of Fed Chair Powell's

testimony to Congress, ECB's Draghi & Villeroy, as well as Riksbank's Ingves.