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Australia Q4 Export Prices Slide 5.2% On Quarter





Export prices in Australia were down 5.2 percent on quarter but rose 4.1 percent on year in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.


Main contributors to the fall included Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (-9.1 percent); coal, coke and briquettes (-14.7 percent); and gas, natural and manufactured (-2.3 percent). Those offset rises in meat and meat preparations (+6.9 percent).


Import prices were up 0.7 percent on quarter and 1.4 percent on year in Q4.


Main positive contributors included petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+3.8 percent); machinery specialized for particular industries (+1.6 percent); and road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles) (+0.4 percent).


Those offset falls in fertilizers (excluding crude) (-6.5 percent); and plastics in non-primary forms (-5.5 percent).


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China Manufacturing PMI 50.0 In January





The manufacturing sector in China fell into stagnation in January, the latest survey from the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday - posting a manufacturing PMI score of 50.0.


That's down from 50.2 in December, and it now sits right on the line that separates expansion from contraction. It matched expectations.


The bureau also said its non-manufacturing index came in with a score of 54.1, beating forecasts for 53.0 and up from 53.5 in the previous month.


The bureau's composite index now sits at 53.0, down from 53.4 a month earlier.


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Australia Building Approvals Sink 0.2% In December





The total number of building approvals in Australia issued in December was down a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent on month in December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Monday - coming in at 14,752.


That exceeded expectations for a decline of 5.0 percent following the 10.9 percent jump in November.


On a yearly basis, building approvals advanced 2.7 percent - exceeding expectations for a drop of 1.4 percent following the .8 percent slide in the previous month.


Consents for private sector houses fell 0.1 percent on month and 7.1 percent on year to 8,486 - while consents for private sector dwellings excluding houses eased 0.1 percent on month and surged 19.4 percent on year to 6,087.


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New Zealand Building Permits Surge 9.9% In December





The total number of building permits issued in New Zealand was up a seasonally adjusted 9.9 percent on month in December, Statistics New Zealand said on Tuesday - coming in at 2,910.


That follows the upwardly revised 8.4 percent drop in November (originally -8.5 percent).


On a yearly basis, building permits spiked 14.0 percent to 37,538.


The annual value of non-residential building work consented was NZ$7.5 billion, up 5.2 percent from the December 2018 year.


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Japan Services PMI Ebbs In January - Jibun Bank





The services sector in Japan continued to expand in January, albeit at a slower rate, the latest survey from Jibun Bank revealed on Wednesday with a PMI score of 51.0.


That's down from 52.1 in December, although it remain further above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.


Individually, business activity growth was at a four-month high, although business confidence fell to a 29-month low.


Demand conditions improved somewhat, and employment rose further.


Also, the bank's composite index came in at 50.1 - down from 51.1 in the previous month.


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Euro Mixed Ahead Of German Factory Orders





At 2.00 am ET Thursday, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's factory orders for December. Orders are forecast to climb 0.6 percent on month, reversing a 1.3 percent drop in November.


Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While the euro rose against the franc, it held steady against the rest of major rivals. The euro was worth 1.1000 against the greenback, 120.90 against the yen, 1.0713 against the franc and 0.8471 against the pound as of 1:55 am ET.

Japan Leading Index Data Due On Friday





Japan is on Friday scheduled to release preliminary December figures for its leading and coincident indexes, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The leading index is tipped to show a score of 91.3, up from 90.8 in November. The coincident is called steady at 94.7.


Japan also will see December figures for household spending and labor cash earnings. Household spending is tipped to fall 1.6 percent on year after sliding 2.0 percent in November. Labor cash earnings are called lower by an annual 0.1 percent after easing 0.2 percent a month earlier.


Australia will see January results for the Performance of Service Index from the Australian Industry Group; in December, the index score was 48.7.


Malaysia will release December numbers for industrial and manufacturing production; in November, they were up an annual 2.0 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.


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Japan Eco Watchers Current Condition Increases; Outlook Falls





A measure of the public assessment of the Japanese economy improved for the third month in a row in January, survey data from the Cabinet Office showed on Monday.


The current conditions index of the Economy Watchers' Survey, which measures the current situation of the economy, increased to 41.9 in January from 39.7 in December. Economists had forecast a reading of 39.1.


However, the outlook index that signals future activity fell to a four-month low of 41.8 in January from 45.5 in the previous month. Economists had expected a score of 43.8.

Australia Home Loan Data Due On Tuesday





Australia will on Tuesday release December numbers for new home loans, setting the pace for a modest day in Asia-Pacific economic activity.


Loans are expected to rise 1.6 percent on month, slowing from 1.8 percent in November. Investment lending is also seen higher by 1.6 percent on month, down from 2.2 percent in the previous month.


Australia also will see January results for the indexes of business confidence and conditions from NAB; in December, their scores were -2 and +3, respectively.


Finally, the markets in Japan are closed on Tuesday in observance of National Day and will reopen on Wednesday.


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New Zealand January Overall Credit Card Spending Rises 0.3%





The total value of credit card spending in New Zealand added a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent on month in January, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday.


That was in line with expectations following the 0.6 percent decline in December.


Retail credit card spending fell 0.1 percent on month, missing expectations for an increase of 0.5 percent following the 0.8 percent drop in the previous month.


"Retail card spending has slowed over the last couple of months on the back of a very strong November month," retail statistics manager Sue Chapman said. "The industries that fell this month compared with December had falls that were quite small, with values only falling by NZ$11 million or less."


Spending in the core retail industries (which excludes automotive industries) was down 0.2 percent.


The non-retail (excluding services) category was up NZ$37 million (2.1 percent), and the services category fell NZ$0.8 million (0.3 percent) in January 2020.


By industry, the movements were: fuel, up NZ$8.7 million (1.5 percent); durables, up NZ$4.1 million (0.3 percent); motor vehicles (excluding fuel), up NZ$1.1 million (0.6 percent); apparel, down NZ$1.0 million (0.3 percent); consumables, down NZ$6.9 million (0.3 percent); and hospitality, down NZ$11 million (1.0 percent).


In actual terms, cardholders made 158 million transactions across all industries in January 2020, with an average value of NZ$50 per transaction. The total amount spent using electronic cards was NZ$8.0 billion.


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