China Q4 GDP y/y steadies at 6.8%, a positive surprise

China's YoY GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2017 came at +6.8% vs +6.7% exp and 6.8% previous, with the QoQ reading for Q3 coming in at +1.6% vs +1.6% exp and +1.7% last. 

With regard to retail sales YoY, the number was +9.4 vs 10.1% exp and 10.2% last, with industrial output YoY at 6.2% and 6.0% exp and 6.1% last. Meanwhile, urban investment YoY stood at +7.2% vs 7.1% expected and 7.2% last. 

The mixed data had a limited impact on the Australian Dollar, with the AUD/USD pair maintaining the bid tone near 0.7975 levels while AUD/JPY keeps its range near 88.70.