CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Thursday release preliminary January figures for industrial production, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Industrial production is expected to have risen 1.5 percent on month but fallen 4.9 percent on year after adding 2.4 percent on month and shedding an annual 7.9 percent in December.
Japan also will see January results for vehicle production, housing starts and construction orders, as well as the February score for the Nomura manufacturing PMI. Vehicle production was down 17.2 percent on year in December, while housing starts climbed an annual 10.0 percent and construction orders collected 4.8 percent on year. The manufacturing PMI saw a score of 47.7.
Australia will release January numbers for new home sales and private sector credit, as well as Q4 figures for private capital expenditure and weekly wages. New home sales were up 6.2 percent on month in December, while private sector credit was up 0.4 percent on month. Capex is expected to add 1.0 percent after rising 2.8 percent in Q3, while weekly wages are expected to add 0.3 percent after spiking 3.4 percent in the previous three months.
New Zealand will see the February results for the business confidence survey from ANZ Bank; in January, the confidence index came in with a score of 22.7 and the outlook was at 31.4.
Malaysia will release January numbers for producer prices; in December, PPI was down 0.8 percent on month and 5.0 percent on year.
Singapore also will announce January PPI data; in December, PPI was down 0.3 percent on month and 4.3 percent on year.
Thailand will provide January figures for imports, exports and trade balance, as well as Q4 data for current account. In December, imports were at $17.67 billion and exports came in at $17.95 billion for a surplus of $0.28 billion. In Q3, the current account saw a surplus of $2.75 billion.
Finally, the markets in Taiwan will be closed on Thursday for Peace Memorial Day, and will re-open on Friday.
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