Australia Unemployment Data Due On Thursday

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

The jobless rate is expected to hold steady at 5.6 percent, with the addition of 17,500 jobs following the gain of 9,800 in October.

Australia also will see December's inflation forecast; in November, the forecast called for prices to rise 3.2 percent on year.

New Zealand will see December results for consumer confidence from ANZ; in November, the index climbed 3.5 percent to a score of 127.2.

Japan will see preliminary December results for the manufacturing PMI from Nikkei; in November, the PMI score was 51.3.

Singapore will release October numbers for retail sales and November data for imports, exports and trade balance.

In September, retail sales were down 0.7 percent on month and up 2.0 percent on year. In October, imports were worth 32.88 billion SGD and exports were at 38.52 billion SGD for a trade surplus of 5.64 billion SGD.

Indonesia will see November numbers for import, exports and trade balance. In October, imports were worth $11.47 billion and exports were at $12.68 billion for a trade surplus of $1.206 billion.

Also, the central bank in Indonesia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 4,75 percent.

The Bank of Korea will conclude its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is widely expected to hold its benchmark lending rate steady at 1.25 percent.