Brent crude oil fell back below $86/barrel, down 0.07% on the day.

Thailand’s exports in February reached US$23.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%.

Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Hui Ching-yu: We are considering providing tax arrangements to promote private investment. Although capital markets have been affected by high interest rates, the insurance and wealth sectors have shown strong growth.

Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Henry Hui Ching-yu: We are confident that we can achieve the goal of attracting 200 family offices announced by Hong Kong leaders last year.

The Philippines and Japan signed a 250 billion yen loan agreement for road and subway construction.

According to a Reuters survey: the Reserve Bank of India is expected to lower the repo rate by 50 basis points to 6.00% by the end of 2024. The Indian economy will grow by 7.6% in fiscal year 2023-2024 and by 6.6% in 2024-2025.

According to Yonhap News Agency, data released on Tuesday showed that South Korea’s retail sales in February increased by 13.7% year-on-year due to rising demand during the Spring Festival. Supermarket sales increased by 21% during the period as demand for food increased by 29.5% as consumers prepared for family gatherings. Driven by ready-to-eat food, convenience store sales also increased by 9.4% during the same period. Online platform sales increased 15.7% year-on-year in February, driven by strong food demand growth of 36.2%. However, amid ongoing inflation, consumers scaled back online spending on fashion and sporting goods, which fell 9.5% and 4.3% respectively.

Sri Lanka lowered the benchmark lending rate from 10.00% to 9.50% and the deposit reserve ratio from 9.00% to 8.50%.

The main contract of lithium carbonate fell by 4.00% during the day and is now quoted at 106,750 yuan/ton.

Japan will issue 2.6 trillion yen of 10-year government bonds on April 2.

According to Yonhap News Agency: South Korean President Yin Xiyue promised to significantly expand investment in research and development in the 2025 budget.

Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government: Hong Kong’s economy is growing steadily.

WTI crude oil stood at $82 per barrel, up 0.25% on the day.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: The impact of foreign exchange on the Japanese economy will be appropriately analyzed.

According to The Verge: Microsoft (MSFT.O) announced today that it will appoint Pavan Davuluri as its new head of Windows and Surface.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Japanese Deputy Finance Minister Masato Kanda did not inform me of foreign responses to foreign exchange actions.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Pay close attention to foreign exchange fluctuations with a high sense of urgency.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Excessive foreign exchange fluctuations may have negative impacts.