PEKING (dpa-AFX) - China is scheduled to release a raft of data on Friday ahead of the Lunar New Year break, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are January figures for imports, exports, trade balance, CPI and PPI.
Imports are expected to surge 23.5 percent on year after adding 6.0 percent in December. Exports are called higher by 17.3 percent on year after rising 14.1 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to show a surplus of $24.20 billion, down from the $31.62 billion surplus a month earlier. CPI is expected to come in at 2.0 percent, down from 2.5 percent in December. PPI is tipped to fall 1.5 percent after dipping 1.9 percent a month earlier.
Japan will release December figures for current account and January numbers for bank lending and the eco watchers survey. The current account is expected to show a deficit of 144.2 billion yen after posting a 222.4 billion yen shortfall in November. Bank lending is expected to rise 1.1 percent on year after adding 1.4 percent in December. The current eco survey is expected to show a score of 48, up from 45.8 in December. The outlook survey is called at 52, up from 51 a month prior.
Malaysia will provide December data for industrial production, imports, exports and trade balance. Industrial output is expected to add 0.5 percent on month and 7.3 percent on year after rising 1.4 percent on month and 7.5 percent on year in November. The trade balance is expected to show a surplus of 10.05 billion ringgit, up from 9.28 billion ringgit in the previous month. Imports were at 49.39 billion ringgit, while exports came in at 58.67 billion ringgit.
Finally, the Taiwan stock market is closed through February 18 for the Lunar New Year holiday.
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