CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Bank of Japan will wrap up its monetary policy meeting on Wednesday, and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.
The central bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate on hold at the current level of 0 to 0.10 percent. Investors also will watch the post-decision press conference with BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda for clues to future policy movement.
Japan also will see April numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to add 0.8 percent on year after surging 18.1 percent in March. Exports are called higher by 4.8 percent, up from 1.8 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to show a deficit of 646 billion yen following the 1,446 billion yen shortfall a month earlier.
Australia will see Q1 figures for wage costs, plus April numbers for skilled vacancies and May scores for the Westpac consumer confidence index.
Wage costs are expected to rise 0.7 percent on quarter and 2.6 percent on year - both unchanged from the previous three months. Vacancies dipped 0.2 percent on month in March, while the confidence index added 0.3 percent to a score of 99.7 in April.
New Zealand will release April numbers for credit card spending; in March, spending was up 1.3 percent on month and 8.1 percent on year.
Malaysia will see inflation data for April; in March, consumer prices were up 0.1 percent on month and 3.5 percent on year.
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