USS Ford strike group will join USS Lincoln carrier strike group in Persian GulfPBOC’s focus on overnight rate fuels speculation of policy shiftBOJ’s Tamura says inflation sticky, sees scope to judge target met by springChina housing market struggles despite “three red lines” removal. 62/70 cities price fallsNZ inflation expectations mixed ahead of likely RBNZ on hold decision February 18China house prices continue their death spiral: January -3.1% y/y and -0.4% m/mPBOC sets USD/ CNY reference rate for today at 6.9398 (vs. estimate at 6.9045)Bank of Japan (BOJ) likely to avoid March rate hike, Japan PM adviser saysJapan seizes Chinese fishing vessel in EEZ, arrests captain amid rising tensionsJapan advances U.S. investment package talks but negotiations remain toughNew Zealand manufacturing PMI eases to 55.2 but signals solid expansion (vs. January 56.1)US January CPI preview: Core seen easing, but sticky monthly keeps Fed cut timing in playUBS: SNB unlikely to fight franc rally, sees EUR/CHF at 0.95 in 12 monthsWeekend risk: Lagarde to speak at Munich Security Conference as ECB stays data-dependentWestpac sees lift in NZ inflation expectations ahead of February RBNZ meetingEconomic and event calendar in Asia Friday, February 13, 2026 – we hear from the RBNZ
At a glance:
Japan seizes Chinese vessel, adding geopolitical tension
BOJ adviser signals no rush for March hike; USD/JPY rebounds
China home prices deepen decline across 62 cities
FX mostly rangebound ahead of US CPI
USS Gerald R. Ford redeployed to Middle East; oil muted
EU aviation regulator extends Iran airspace warning
Gold and silver firm
RBNZ decision next week; inflation expectations mixed
Japanese equities ease after strong weekly gains
Japan seized a Chinese fishing vessel inside its exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki and arrested the skipper after the boat allegedly fled inspection. The move risks adding fresh strain to already tense Tokyo–Beijing relations, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing trade and security friction between the two countries.
On the monetary front, an adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government does not necessarily need to appoint reflationists to upcoming Bank of Japan board vacancies. He added the BOJ may see scope to raise rates later this year but is unlikely to move in March. The remarks were interpreted as reducing the probability of a near-term hike, providing a modest headwind for the yen. USD/JPY bounced toward 153.30 in response.
Later more hawkish comments from BoJ Board member Tamura saw the yen gain back, USD/JPY down to circa 152.85.
From China, new home prices fell 0.4% month-on-month and 3.1% year-on-year in January, marking the steepest annual drop in seven months. Price declines were recorded in 62 of 70 cities surveyed, highlighting persistent weakness in the property sector despite policy easing and the removal of developer debt caps.
Major FX pairs against the US dollar traded largely sideways in subdued ranges as traders await US CPI data due at 8:30 a.m. US Eastern time on Friday.
Geopolitically, the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group will be redirected from the Caribbean to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf as pressure on Iran intensifies. Crude oil showed little reaction, with expectations of a second carrier presence having built in recent weeks. Separately, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency extended its recommendation that airlines avoid Iranian airspace through March 31, citing elevated risks.
Gold and silver edged higher.
Japanese equities, including the Nikkei and Topix, pulled back slightly after solid gains earlier in the week, tracking Wall Street’s Thursday weakness.
Asia-Pac
stocks:
Japan
(Nikkei 225) -0.68%Hong
Kong (Hang Seng) -1.79%
Shanghai
Composite -0.70%Australia
(S&P/ASX 200) -1.37%
Looking ahead, attention turns to the February 18 Reserve Bank of New Zealand policy decision, where a hold is widely expected. Inflation expectations data released today showed mixed signals.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.