CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan is on Thursday scheduled to release preliminary gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter of 2012, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.
GDP is expected to add 0.1 percent on quarter and 0.4 percent on year after dipping 0.9 percent on quarter and 3.5 percent on year in the previous three months. Nominal GDP is called flat on quarter after falling 0.9 percent in Q3.
Also, the Bank of Japan will conclude its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is expected to keep rates on hold at the current 0 to 0.10 percent, although additional easing measures may be introduced.
The Bank of Korea also will conclude its monetary policy meeting and announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at the current level of 2.75 percent.
China will announce FDI figures for January, with forecasts suggesting a decline of 4.2 percent on year following the 4.5 percent annual decline in December.
Australia will provide consumer inflation expectations data for February; in January, it came in at 2.0 percent.
New Zealand will see the February results for the ANZ consumer confidence index; in January, it was up 3.1 percent on month to a score of 118.3.
Finally, stock markets in Taiwan and China remain closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. They will re-open on Monday.
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