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MALAYSIA EXPORTS RISES IN FEBRUARY



Malaysia's exports grew in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Monday.

Exports increased 17.6 percent year-on-year to MYR 87.6 billion in February. Economists had expected a rise of 8.8 percent.

Imports gained 12.7 percent annually to MYR 69.7 billion in February. Economists had forecast a 4.0 percent rise.

The trade surplus totaled MYR 17.9 billion in February, which was above the expected level of MYR 15.9 billion.

On a monthly basis, exports declined 2.3 percent in February and imports decreased 4.5 percent.

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JAPAN RETAIL SALES SINK 1.5% ON YEAR IN FEBRUARY



The total value of retail sales in Japan was down 1.5 percent on year in February, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Tuesday - coming in at 11.628 trillion yen.

That beat forecasts for a decline of 2.8 percent following the 2.4 percent drop in the previous month.

On a monthly basis, retail sales jumped 1.4 percent after dropping 1.7 percent in January.

Commercial sales were down 3.3 percent on year and up 0.4 percent on month at 42.114 trillion yen, while wholesale sales sank 1.2 percent on month and 4.3 percent on year to 30.486 trillion yen.

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UK SHOP PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL IN MARCH: BRC



UK shop prices continued to fall in March as non-food retailers resorted to discounting, data from the British Retail Consortium, or BRC, showed Tuesday.

The shop price index fell 2.4 percent on a yearly basis in March. Non-food prices were down 4 percent from last year, while food prices gained 0.3 percent.

Retail prices fell again in March as the third consecutive month of lockdown led many non-food retailers, especially clothing, to heavily discount their products, Helen Dickinson, chief executive, at BRC, said.

Rising global food prices, at their highest since 2014, as well as increased oil prices and shipping costs, and Brexit red tape will likely begin to filter through, pushing up prices at tills, Dickinson added.

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CHINA MANUFACTURING PMI SLOWS IN MARCH - CAIXIN



The manufacturing sector in China continued to expand in March, albeit at a slightly slower pace, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Thursday with a seasonally adjusted manufacturing PMI score of 50.6.

That's down from 50.9 in February, although it remains well above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Individually, production increased again amid a further uptick in sales, while export orders rose for the first time in three months.

Manufacturers were confident that output would continue to rise over the next year, with the level of positive sentiment among the highest seen over the past seven years. Growth projections were heavily linked to expectations that the pandemic will end, and that global demand will recover.

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SOUTH KOREA CONSUMER PRICES CLIMB 1.5% ON YEAR IN MARCH



Consumer prices in South Korea were up 1.5 percent on year in March, Statistics Korea said on Friday.

That exceeded expectations for an increase of 1.35 percent and was up from 1.1 percent in February.

On a monthly basis, inflation rose 0.1 percent - again exceeding expectations for a decline of 0.1 percent following the 0.5 percent gain in the previous month.

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JAPAN SERVICES ACTIVITY SHRINKS LESS THAN ESTIMATED



Japan's services activity contracted at a slower than initially estimated pace in March, final data from IHS Markit showed on Monday.

The au Jibun Bank Japan Services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 48.3 in March from 46.3 in February. This was well above the flash score of 46.5 but below the neutral 50.0 mark, suggesting contraction in the sector. The latest reading was the highest since January 2020, as some companies lifted output at the end of the first quarter.

New business inflows fell at a softer pace in the latest survey period. In anticipation of improving orders as the pandemic recedes, Japanese service providers increased employment levels for the second successive month.

Average cost burdens climbed for the fourth straight month in March. However, average prices charged by service providers dropped further.

Business optimism for activity in the next 12 months strengthened to the highest level since May 2013 in March.

The composite output index, which measures combined output in the manufacturing and service sectors, rose to 49.9 in March from 48.2 in February. The flash score was 48.3.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: EUROZONE UNEMPLOYMENT DATA DUE



Unemployment data from euro area is due on Tuesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain unemployment data for March is due from the labor ministry. The number of unemployed increased by 44,400 in February.

At 4.00 am ET, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders releases UK car registrations data for March.

In the meantime, Italy's Istat publishes unemployment data for February. The jobless rate is seen unchanged at 9.0 percent.

Half an hour later, Eurozone Sentix investor confidence survey results are due. Economists expect the index to rise to 7.5 in April from 5.0 in March.

At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat releases euro area unemployment data for February. The jobless rate is seen unchanged at 8.1 percent.

At 8.30 am ET, the International Monetary Fund releases the World Economic Outlook.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: EUROZONE UNEMPLOYMENT DATA DUE



Unemployment data from euro area is due on Tuesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain unemployment data for March is due from the labor ministry. The number of unemployed increased by 44,400 in February.

At 4.00 am ET, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders releases UK car registrations data for March.

In the meantime, Italy's Istat publishes unemployment data for February. The jobless rate is seen unchanged at 9.0 percent.

Half an hour later, Eurozone Sentix investor confidence survey results are due. Economists expect the index to rise to 7.5 in April from 5.0 in March.

At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat releases euro area unemployment data for February. The jobless rate is seen unchanged at 8.1 percent.

At 8.30 am ET, the International Monetary Fund releases the World Economic Outlook.

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NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS CONFIDENCE WEAKENS IN APRIL



New Zealand business confidence deteriorated in April, the preliminary ANZ Business Outlook data showed Thursday.

The business confidence index fell to -8.4 in April from -4.1 in March. At the same time, the own activity outlook was unchanged at +16.4 percent.

Employment and investment intentions were unchanged, and export intentions rose slightly, but capacity utilization, the best GDP indicator, fell 3 points.

Expected credit availability also decreased 6 points. The proportion of firms reporting higher employment than a year ago fell 2 points.

Cost and inflation pressures remained intense. Expected costs rose 2 points to a net 75 percent expecting higher costs ahead. A net 53 percent of respondents plan to raise their prices, up 6 points to a fresh record high, the survey showed.

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AUSTRALIA BUILDING PERMITS SURGE IN FEBRUARY



The total number of building permits issued in Australia came in at a seasonally adjusted 21.6 percent on month in February - standing at 19,422.

That was in line with expectations following the 19.4 percent slump in January.

Private sector houses rose 15.1 percent, while private sector dwellings excluding houses increased 45.3 percent.

On a yearly basis, overall permits climbed 20.1 percent, private sector houses surged 57.5 percent and private sector dwellings excluding houses plunged 28.7 percent.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for the value of non-residential building approved rose 27.5 percent.

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