Global FX DATA:

• • • ASIAN MARKET
      
      Asian shares found relief on Thursday as fears about a global trade war amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to introduce protectionist tariffs were tempered by signs the move could include carve-outs for key partners.
       
    • GOLD
      
      Gold prices held steady on Thursday as investors awaited more details on U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed steel and aluminium tariffs, the outcome of the European Central Bank’s policy meeting, and U.S. jobs data.
       
  • • OIL
      
       Oil prices steadied on Thursday, supported by healthy demand, after falling the previous day on the back of record U.S. crude production and rising inventories.
       
    • INDIA
      
      India said on Wednesday it would spend 11.52 billion Indian rupees over two years on agricultural mechanization to reduce crop residue burning and bring pollution levels down in and around its capital New Delhi.
       
    • DOLLAR
      
      The dollar recovered ground on Thursday, drawing relief from positive labor market data and the White House saying Canada and Mexico, and possibly other countries, may be exempted from planned U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum.
       
    • JAPAN
      
      Japan’s financial regulator on Thursday punished seven cryptocurrency exchanges, suspending business at the two of them, in an effort to shore up consumer protection after the $530 million theft of digital money from Tokyo-based Coincheck.
       
    • SOUTH KOREA
      
      South Korea vowed on Thursday to strengthen laws against sexual assault and implement measures to reduce harassment as the #MeToo campaign sweeps the country and sparks calls for meaningful action to tackle sexual abuse.

    • SRI LANKA
      
      A curfew in the Sri Lankan town of Kandy will be temporarily lifted on Thursday, authorities said, following days of violence against members of the minority Muslim community by Buddhists.

    • US
      
       U.S. President Donald Trump has won an arbitration proceeding against adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, his spokeswoman said on Wednesday, a day after Daniels sued Trump for the right to speak about the “intimate relationship” she claims they had.

    • PHILLIPINE
      
      A U.N. special rapporteur, a former Philippine lawmaker and four former Catholic priests are among more than 600 alleged communist guerrillas the Philippines wants declared “terrorists”, according to a government petition filed in court.
       

    • CHINA
      
      China will make a necessary response in the event of a trade war with the United States, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday, while warning that such a war would only harm all sides.
       

    • VIENNA
      
      Four people were seriously wounded in two knife attacks in a district of the Austrian capital, Vienna, on Wednesday evening, but a motive or any connection between the assaults was unclear.