| • Japan Jan leading index rose 2.4 points, coincident index up 2.5 points. • UK Feb RICS house price balance jumped to 17 vs. 30 exp lowest since Aug "09, prior Jan reading 31. • UK Feb BRC like-for-like retail sales 2.2% y/y vs.Jan -0.7%, lowest in survey history, while Feb total sales 4.5% • Australia Feb NAB business conditions index rose to 8, confidence climbed 19, Jan 3, 15. • Australia Feb job ads 19.1% m/m, highest in yr, newspaper 13.1%, internet 19.6%. • According to a UK Times poll Labor-Tories are currently neck-neck in marginal seats • Wall Street Journal states that Moody's sees UK bank bailout wind-down could trigger UK bank ratings cuts. • In China, SAFEs Yi Gang states that reserves are appropriately diversified in USD, EUR, JPY and emerging ccys and reiterates yesterdays Wen comment on the CNY exchange rate policy. |