Economic Indicators - The dollar index (DXY00) is down -0.04%, influenced by a smaller-than-expected decline in US jobless claims and a larger-than-expected drop in January existing home sales [1] - US weekly initial unemployment claims decreased by -5,000 to 227,000, indicating a slightly weaker labor market than the expected 223,000 [2] - January existing home sales fell -8.4% month-over-month to a 16-month low of 3.91 million, below expectations of 4.5 million [3] Currency Movements - The Chinese yuan has strengthened, reaching a new 2.5-year high, which is putting additional pressure on the dollar [1] - The euro (EUR/USD) is up by +0.09% amid mild dollar weakness, although gains are limited by a decline in German bund yields [5] - The yen (USD/JPY) is down by -0.24%, with the yen reaching a 2-week high against the dollar, supported by lower T-note yields [6] Interest Rate Expectations - Swaps markets are pricing in a 6% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut at the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 17-18 [4] - The FOMC is expected to cut interest rates by approximately -50 basis points in 2026, while the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is anticipated to raise rates by +25 basis points in the same year [4] - There is a 3% chance of a -25 basis point rate cut by the European Central Bank (ECB) at its next policy meeting on March 19 [5]