* WHEN: Tuesday, May 11, 12:01 p.m. (0401 GMT)
* REUTERS FORECAST: Median forecast is for a rise of 13.3 pct y/y vs 4.9 pct y/y in February. Fourteen economists took part in the survey and their forecasts ranged from 7.5 pct to 18.3 pct.
* FACTORS TO WATCH: Factory output in March will likely register strong growth, making up for lost ground in February's output which grew by a smaller-than-expected 4.9 percent year on year. Exports data last week showed stronger-than-expected growth with exports up 36.4 percent from a year ago compared to February's 18.4 percent annual gain.
* MARKET IMPACT: A strong factory output print would not influence bond prices directly but it would likely mean better economic growth in the first quarter and a higher chance of a rate hike. Malaysia's central bank will announce both first quarter gross domestic product data and its decision on interest rates on May 13. The central bank last hiked rates by 25 basis points in March.
Forecasts for March industrial production index
(percentage change from a year earlier):
JP Morgan 7.5
Standard Chartered 8.7
UOB 10.0
ING 10.5
OSK-DMG 12.0
HSBC 12.0
Citigroup 13.1
Bank Islam 13.4
Affin Securities 14.0
Barclays 14.0
TA Securities 14.0
CIMB 15.0
Action Economics 16.0
Forecast Pte 18.3
Median 13.3
February 4.9
January 13.7
(Reporting by Royce Cheah; Editing by Neil Fullick) Keywords: MALAYSIA ECONOMY/OUTPUT (royce.cheah@thomsonreuters.com; +603 2333 8040; Reuters Messaging; royce.cheah.reuters.com@reuters.net; bureau email: areuters@gmail.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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