Australia Jobless Data Due On Thursday

RTTNews | 1014 days ago
Australia Jobless Data Due On Thursday

(RTTNews) - Australia will on Thursday release May figures for unemployment, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The jobless rate is expected to tick down to 3.8 percent from 3.9 percent in April, with the addition of 25,000 jobs after gaining 4,000 jobs in the previous month. The participation rate is tipped to improve to 66.4 percent from 66.3 percent a month earlier.

New Zealand will provide Q1 data for gross domestic product; in the previous three months, GDP was up 3.0 percent on quarter and 3.1 percent on year.

Japan will see May figures for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to surge 43.6 percent on year, accelerating from 28.2 percent in April. Exports are called higher by an annual 16.4 percent, up from 12.5 percent in the previous month. The trade deficit is pegged at 2,022.6 billion yen following the 839.2 billion yen shortfall a month earlier.

The monetary authority in Hong Kong will wrap up its policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates; it's widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate steady at 1.25 percent.

The de facto central bank in Taiwan will conclude its monetary policy meeting and announce its decision on interest rates; the bank is expected to hike its benchmark lending rate from 1.375 percent to 1.50 percent.

read more
French Consumer Confidence Weakens

French Consumer Confidence Weakens

French consumer sentiment weakened in March largely due to the deterioration in households' view about future financial situation, monthly survey data from the statistical office INSEE showed on Wednesday. The consumer confidence index fell unexpectedly to 92 in March from 93 in February. The reading was expected to rise to 94.
RTTNews | 4h 14min ago
Pound Falls Against Majors

Pound Falls Against Majors

The British pound weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday.
RTTNews | 4h 37min ago
UK Inflation Cools To 2.8%

UK Inflation Cools To 2.8%

UK inflation softened unexpectedly in February on lower clothing costs, data from the Office for National Statistics showed on Wednesday. The consumer price index logged an annual increase of 2.8 percent in February, following January's 3.0 percent rise. Prices were forecast to climb again by 3.0 percent. Core inflation that excludes prices of energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, was 3.5 percent.
RTTNews | 4h 42min ago
Asian Shares Follow Wall Street Higher

Asian Shares Follow Wall Street Higher

Asian stocks ended mostly higher on Wednesday even as deteriorating U.S. consumer confidence in the face of tariff fears coincided with economists' forecasts suggesting a risk of stagflation and rising odds of recession.
RTTNews | 5h 45min ago
Commodity Currencies Advance Amid Risk-on Mood

Commodity Currencies Advance Amid Risk-on Mood

The commodity currencies such as Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars strengthened against their major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday, as investors risk-on mood increased amid optimism about earlier interest rate cuts by the U.S. Fed after U.S. consumer confidence deteriorated by more than expected in the month of March. Traders are also optimistic about some tariff exemptions by the U.S. administration as they seek greater clarity on the next round of tariffs.
RTTNews | 5h 51min ago