The Nikkei 225 index erased gains.

Japanese Government: Transport ministers from G7 countries will hold an online meeting on the Red Sea crisis on February 20.

BHP Billiton CEO: Core performance remains very strong.

Market news: US President Biden will go to Los Angeles on February 20, local time, and San Francisco on February 21.

Japan will issue 1 trillion yen of 20-year government bonds today with an interest rate of 1.300%.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmeygar: Ukrainian troops are hampered by a lack of artillery and long-range ammunition.

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeru Saito: Specific measures regarding gasoline subsidies after April have not yet been decided.

According to Indian media ET: Zee Entertainment has re-opened merger negotiations with Sony Group.

Prime Minister of Thailand: Urges the interest rate decision-making committee to hold an emergency meeting to consider lowering interest rates.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmeygar: The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a struggle between democracy and autocracy.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmeygar: After the US Senate approved aid, Ukraine is waiting for support from the House of Representatives.

Prime Minister of Thailand: Thailand’s economy is at a critical stage.

[Toyota Motor Co.’s union is reported to seek higher wages and bonuses] Toyota Motor Corp.’s union is preparing for annual salary negotiations with the Japanese automaker. During the negotiations, the union is reported to ask for higher wages and bonuses, seeking to pay employees the equivalent of 7.6 Monthly salary bonus. The amount unions are demanding would be a significant increase from last year, which saw the highest per capita wage increase since 1999.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: Noting that there are some views that the new Personal Savings Account Scheme (NISA) plan leads to capital flight and the weakening of the yen. Does not comment on stock prices. Will pay close attention to stock market trends.

According to a Reuters survey: All 38 analysts interviewed said that the Bank of Korea will keep the basic interest rate unchanged at 3.50% on February 22.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki: The government is not considering increasing defense spending.

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

According to a Reuters survey, the Bank of Korea is expected to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.50% in the second quarter of 2024 and lower it to 3.25% in the third quarter, the same as the January survey.

Reserve Bank of Australia meeting minutes: If the economy weakens during the interest rate hike cycle, it will not rule out a shift to interest rate cuts.

RBA meeting minutes: Risks are balanced between high inflation and slowing demand.