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China Manufacturing PMI 52.0 In March



The manufacturing sector in China moved back into expansion in March, the latest survey from the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 52.0 - beating forecasts for 45.0.

That's up sharply from 35.7 in February, and it moves back above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

The non-manufacturing PMI came in at 52.3, also exceeding expectations for 42.0 and up from 29.6 in the previous month.

The composite PMI posted a score of 53.0, up from 28.9 a month prior.

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Contraction Accelerates For Vietnam Manufacturing Sector



The manufacturing sector in Vietnam continued to contract in March, and at a faster rate, the latest survey from IHS Markit revealed on Wednesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 41.9.

That's down from 49.0 in February and it slips further beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Individually, last month saw the sharpest declines in output, new orders and employment in survey history. Business confidence tumbled, while firms scaled back purchasing and inventory holdings.

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South Korea Inflation Data Due On Thursday



South Korea will on Thursday release March numbers for consumer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, overall inflation was flat on month and up 1.1 percent on year, while core CPI added 0.1 percent on month and gained 0.5 percent on year.

Japan will provide March figures for monetary base; in February, the monetary base climbed 3.6 percent on year.

Australia will see February figures for job vacancies; in January, vacancies were up 1.6 percent on month.

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Singapore Retail Sales Decrease In February



Singapore retail sales decline at the fastest pace in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday.

Retail sales declined 8.6 percent year-on-year in February, following a 5.3 percent fall in January.

Motor vehicle sales rose 1.3 percent annually in February, following a 33.6 percent fall in the previous month.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales decreased 10.2 percent in February, after a 0.6 percent increase in the preceding month.

Sales of wearing apparel and footwear declined the most by 41.0 percent in February and those of food and alcohol, and department stores decreased 40.5 percent and 36.3 percent, respectively.

On a monthly basis, retail sales dropped 8.9 percent in February, after a 0.2 percent rise in the prior month.

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Australia Inflation Forecast Due On Monday



Australia will on Monday see the March inflation forecast from TD Securities, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, the forecast suggested a decline of 0.1 percent on month and an increase of 1.6 percent on year.

Australia also will see March data on job advertisements from ANZ; in February, job ads were up 0.7 percent on month.

New Zealand will see March figures for commodity prices from ANZ; in February, prices were down 2.1 percent on month.

Finally the markets in China and Thailand are closed on Monday for the Qingming Festival and Chakri Day, respectively; they will re-open on Tuesday.

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Estonia Inflation Eases In March



Estonia's consumer price inflation eased in March, data from Statistics Estonia showed on Monday.

The consumer price index rose 0.9 percent year-on-year in March, after a 2.0 percent increase in February. In January, inflation was 1.6 percent.

Inflation was mainly affected the most by more expensive food and non-alcoholic beverages. Electricity were cheaper, while petrol and diesel fuel were more expensive, the agency reported.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices dropped 0.7 percent in March, after a 0.5 percent rise in the previous month.

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S&P Lowers Australia's Rating Outlook To Negative



S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook on Australia's rating outlook to negative from stable as coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak weakened its fiscal outlook.

The rating agency said the negative outlook reflects a substantial deterioration of Australia's fiscal headroom at the 'AAA' rating level.

The outbreak of coronavirus has posed a severe economic and fiscal shock. The Australian economy is set to plunge into recession for the first time in almost 30 years, causing a substantial deterioration of the government's fiscal headroom at the 'AAA' rating level.

Nonetheless, the ratings were affirmed at 'AAA'. S&P observed that the triple A rating on Australia benefit from the country's strong institutional settings, its wealthy economy, and monetary policy flexibility.

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BoK Rate Decision On Tap For Thursday



The Bank of Korea will wrap up its monetary policy meeting on Thursday and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The BoK is expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at the record low of 0.75 percent after the central bank's emergency cut last month of 50 basis points to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.

Japan will see March results for its consumer confidence index, with forecasts suggesting a score of 35.0 - down from 38.4 in February.

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Japan Overall Bank Lending Rises 2.0% In March



Overall bank lending in Japan was up 2.0 percent on year in March, the Bank of Japan said on Friday - coming in at 546.248 trillion yen.

That follows the 2.1 percent yearly increase in February.

Excluding trusts, bank lending rose an annual 2.2 percent to 476.139 trillion yen after gaining 2.2 percent in the previous month.

Lending from trusts was steady at 1.0 percent, worth 70.109 trillion yen, while lending from foreign banks skyrocketed an annual 28.5 percent to 3.655 trillion yen.

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Malaysia Industrial Production Rises In February



Malaysia's industrial production grew at a faster-than-expected pace in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Monday.

Industrial production rose 5.8 percent year-on-year in February, following a 0.6 percent increase in January. Economists had expected a 0.7 percent rise.

Manufacturing output grew 5.6 percent in February, following a 2.2 percent rise in the previous month.

Among other sectors, mining and quarrying output increased 6.1 percent and electricity output rose 6.8 percent.

Sales of textile, wearing apparels, leather and footwear gained 6.7 percent and those of petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic, and wood, furniture, paper products and printing grew by 6.3 percent, each.

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