Asia Economy

China, Hong Kong stock markets closed for Lunar New Year, India GDP in focus

Asian markets closed for Lunar New Year, which heralds the Year of the Monkey.
Bertrand Linet | Getty Images

With several Asian markets closed for Lunar New Year celebrations and only a smattering of Asian data due, the first week of the Year of the Monkey is expected to be a relatively quiet one for investors.

India set for 'uninspiring' growth

Due on Monday, India's gross domestic product (GDP) likely expanded 7.3 percent year-on-year in the December quarter, down from the 7.4 percent in the previous quarter, reported Moody's Analytics.

Moody's Analytics said that although the growth rate appeared high, India was still operating under a negative output gap, with its potential GDP growth being around 10 percent.

Mizuho Bank said in a note that India's growth "remains uninspiring, even if one of the brightest spots in Asia" as industrial momentum is sputtering and global demand continues to drag most of Asia into a manufacturing recession.

India's December industrial production data is out Friday.

China credit data watched for growth

Investors will watch for signs in China's credit data, due Tuesday, that monetary easing had continued to support credit growth, Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital, said in a weekly note.

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 17: A Chinese traveler sleeps as others read and relax as they wait to leave for the Spring Festival at a local railway station on February 17, 2015 in Beijing, China.
Coming near you: Six million Chinese tourists next week

China's January broad money supply (M2) is expected to show year-on-year growth of 13.8 percent, compared to the previous quarter at 13.3 percent.

M2 refers to the total stock of liquid assets in an economy such as cash and current account deposits, as well as less liquid indicators such as savings deposits and money market mutual funds.

Philippines industrial output set to slow

The Philippines' industrial production is expected to grow just 1.5 percent in December on-year, down from November's 7.5 percent on-year gain, as dry weather conditions hit crop output and leads food manufacturing to weigh on broader production numbers, Moody's said.

The Philippines central bank will hold a monetary policy meeting on Thursday.

Mizuho Bank expects the central bank to keep interest rates steady at 4 percent, because of capital outflow risks from global markets volatility and the Federal Reserve's hiking path.

Moreover, there is no urgency to cut rates as the economy was "on a faster growth track," said Mizuho.

Australian home loans in focus

National Australian Bank (NAB) will release its business confidence survey on Tuesday, and consumer confidence on Wednesday, which could reflect vulnerability amid global market turbulence, said AMP Capital.

Australia's December home-loan approvals are out on Friday, andare expected to soften slightly after November's strong 1.8 percentgain, Moody's said.

Australia rides the wave of Chinese tourists
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Australia rides the wave of Chinese tourists

National Australian Bank (NAB) will release its business confidence survey on Tuesday, and consumer confidence on Wednesday, which could reflect vulnerability amid global market turbulence, said AMP Capital.

Australia's December home-loan approvals are out on Friday, and are expected to soften slightly after November's strong 1.8 percent gain, Moody's said.

Markets closures this week

Feb.8: Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Phillipines, Vietnam

Feb.9: Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam

Feb. 10: Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam

Feb. 11: China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam

Feb. 12: China, Taiwan, Vietnam

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