CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China is scheduled to release a raft of data on Friday, headlining a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are February figures for CPI, PPI, industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment.
The inflation rate is expected to fall to 3.4 percent from 4.5 percent in January, while PPI is tipped to ease to 0.1 percent from 0.7 percent from the previous month. Output is called higher by 12.5 percent on year after rising 12.8 percent a month earlier. Retail sales are seen higher by an annual 17.4 percent after collecting 18.1 percent in January. Investment is expected to climb 20.5 percent on year after jumping 23.8 percent in the previous month.
Australia will provide January trade balance data, with forecasts suggesting a surplus of A$1.5 billion - down from the A$1.709 billion surplus in December.
The Malaysian central bank will on Friday conclude its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at 3.00 percent.
Japan will release February figures for M2 and M3 money stock. M2 is expected to add 3.0 percent on year, the same as in January - while M3 is also expected to remain unchanged at 2.6 percent.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX