Japan’s February flash Manufacturing PMI 47.4 (expected 49.3; last 48.9) and flash Services PMI 53.6 (expected 51.5; last 52.3)
South Korea’s February Consumer Confidence 90.2 (last 90.7)
New Zealand’s Q4 Input PPI 0.5% qtr/qtr (expected 2.4%; last 0.8%) and Output PPI 0.9% qtr/qtr (expected 2.1%; last 1.6%). February flash Manufacturing PMI 50.1 (last 50.0) and flash Services PMI 49.2 (last 48.6)
Japan’s Manufacturing PMI contracted for the fourth consecutive time in the flash reading for February while Australia’s reading remained in expansionary territory for the 34th month in a row.
South Korea’s exports through the first 20 days of February were down 2.3% yr/yr with chip exports falling 43.9% yr/yr.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest policy minutes showed a debate over the size of a rate hike and an acknowledgement that private sector wages will show an above-forecast increase for Q4.