CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Reserve Bank of Australia will on Tuesday release the minutes from its monetary policy board meeting on February 7, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic news. At the meeting, the board decided to keep its benchmark cash rate unchanged at 4.25 percent against economists' expectations for a quarter-point reduction.
Japan will announce the results of its all industry activity index for December, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.5 percent on month. That follows the 1.1 percent contraction in November.
Hong Kong will release seasonally adjusted inflation data for January, with analysts expecting the rate to remain unchanged from the previous month at 3.3 percent.
Thailand will provide January numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to rise 5.8 percent on year following the 19.1 percent surge in December. Exports are called higher by 0.6 percent on year after easing 2.0 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to reflect a deficit of $1.905 billion after posting a shortfall of $2.130 billion a month earlier.
The RBNZ will provide inflation expectations for New Zealand in the first quarter of 2012; expectations were at 2.8 percent for the previous quarter.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX