Japan (NKY:IND) +0.91%. The indicator for Japan’s services sector fell to 49.8 in March 2024 from 51.3 the previous month, the lowest reading since January 2023.
Japan’s current account surplus fell short of estimates in February, as did the country’s real wages declining for the 23rd consecutive month.
Earthquake hits southern Japan, emergency alert for Miyazaki, Kagoshima.
China (SHCOMP) -0.71%. Chinese Premier Li Qiang Sunday said Beijing and Washington must respect each other and not become adversaries. He added that some progress had been made during US Treasury Secretary Yellen’s trip to China starting last Friday.
China’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $19.8 billion to $3.246 trillion in March 2024, beating market expectations of a decline to $3.21 trillion and $3.226 trillion in February.
Traders are anxiously awaiting key inflation data from China this week to gauge the health of the economy and the path of monetary policy.
Hong Kong (HSI) +0.03%.
India (SENSEX) +0.65%.
Australia (AS51) +0.20%. Australian property finance data for February: owner employed +1.6% m/m and investment +1.2%.
In the United States, all three major indexes closed higher on Friday as investors digested stronger-than-expected jobs data.
US stock futures rose on Monday as the market tries to recoup some losses from last week, while key US inflation data this week is cautiously awaited for clues on the path of interest rates: Dow -0.05%; S&P500 -0.12%; Nasdaq -0.01%.
Investors are also anxiously awaiting monetary policy decisions from central banks in the Asia-Pacific region this week, including the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Bank of Korea, the Bank of Thailand and the central bank of the Philippines. Additionally, markets will evaluate the latest inflation data from the United States and China later this week.
Markets also monitored rising oil prices which could further fuel inflationary pressures.
Currencies: (JPY:USD), (CNY:USD), (AUD:USD), (INR:USD), (HKD:USD), (NZD:USD).
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