Japan's Nikkei Average Futures Up 0.5% In Early Trade

IMF Welcomes Japan's Commitment To Flexible Forex Regime, Which Should Support Monetary Policy's Focus On Price Stability

Nikkei Futures Trade At 57055 Versus Cash Close Of 56,566

[White House Rejects Latest Democratic Proposal To End Department Of Homeland Security Shutdown] It Was Learned On February 17th That The White House Rejected The Latest Proposal From Democrats, With The Two Sides Still "far Apart" On Ending The Partial Shutdown Of The Department Of Homeland Security (DHS). White House Officials Stated That The Government Remains Willing To Engage In "goodwill Dialogue" To End The "Democrat-induced Shutdown," But Insists On Upholding The President's Commitments On Immigration Enforcement. Democrats, On The Other Hand, Demand Increased Oversight Of Federal Immigration Enforcement As A Prerequisite For Supporting Funding. This Partial Shutdown Has Lasted For Several Days, And There Are No Signs Of An Impending Agreement

[Canada's Third Most Populous Province Plans To Cut 15,000 Public Sector Jobs, Spending And Debt Expected To Rise] British Columbia, Canada's Third Most Populous Province, Will Cut 15,000 Public Sector Jobs, Raise Personal Income Taxes, And Postpone Several Investments. However, The Province's Left-wing Government Has Avoided Deep Cuts To Its Massive Spending Plans And Expects Debt To Continue To Climb. "This Is Not A Budget Austerity Measure," Said BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey At The Annual Fiscal Update In Victoria, The Provincial Capital

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index Rises 0.3% To 8985.60 Points In Early Trade

Poll-US 2026-27 Corn Plantings Seen At 94.9 Million Acres, Soybeans 84.9 Million