CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Australia is on Wednesday scheduled to release Q4 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to add 0.7 percent on quarter and 2.3 percent on year after climbing 1.0 percent on quarter and 2.5 percent on year in Q3. Australia also will see the results of the AIG Performance of Construction Index for February; the index saw a score of 39.8 in January.
Japan will provide preliminary January scores for its leading and coincident indexes. The leading index is expected to show a score of 95.0, up from 94.0 in December. The coincident is called at 93.4, easing from 93.6 in the previous month.
Malaysia will announce January figures for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to rise 6.4 percent on year after rising 10.4 percent in December. Exports are called higher by 3.3 percent on year after adding 6.1 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is forecast to reflect a surplus of 8.56 billion ringgit, up from 8.31 billion ringgit a month earlier.
Taiwan will release February numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are predicted to climb 7.0 percent on year following the 11.9 percent contraction in January. Exports are tipped to rise an annual 9.5 percent after shedding 16.8 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to show a surplus of $1.21 billion, up from $0.42 billion a month earlier.
Finally, the Stock Exchange of Thailand will be closed on Wednesday for Makha Bucha Day. It will re-open on Thursday.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX