Today's Asia-Pacific session saw AUD/USD.....>

AUSSIE: Today's Asia-Pacific session saw AUD/USD rally 41 pips, with the rate

last sitting at $0.7197. AUD jumped on the back of a stronger than exp. headline

AU Q4 CPI print, which printed at +1.8% Y/Y vs. exp. +1.7%, prev. +1.9%.

Underlying inflation measures hover around the RBA's assumption for Dec 2018

(+1.75% Y/Y), with weighted median at +1.7% and trimmed mean at +1.8%, still shy

of the Bank's 2-3% target range. Dalian iron ore futures going limit up in early

trade & broader yuan strength also lent support to the Aussie. 

- The rate peaked at $0.7201, bulls look for a break above that level before

challenging the Jan 11 YTD high of $0.7235. Conversely, bears look for a move

through three key DMAs at $0.7177 (55-DMA), $0.7171 (100-DMA) & $0.7167 (50-DMA)

before targeting the next (21-) DMA below at $0.7148. 

- AU focus falls on the top-level Sino-U.S. trade negotiations due to commence

today, while Chinese PMI data, due tomorrow, will also attract attention.