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SOUTH KOREA CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IMPROVES IN MARCH



South Korea's consumer confidence improved in March, survey results from Bank of Korea showed on Friday.

The consumer confidence index rose to 100.5 in March from 97.4 in February.

The indicator measuring current living standards rose two points to 89 in March and that concerning the outlook for living standards increased one points to 95.

Consumer sentiment related to future household income remained unchanged at 96 and future spending index grew three points to 107.

Consumer sentiment concerning current domestic conditions increased nine points to 72 and future domestic economic conditions rose three points to 93.

The expected inflation rate for the following year was 2.1 percent versus 2.0 percent a month ago.

The survey was conducted among 2,500 households between March 9 and 16.

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SOUTH KOREA CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IMPROVES IN MARCH



South Korea's consumer confidence improved in March, survey results from Bank of Korea showed on Friday.

The consumer confidence index rose to 100.5 in March from 97.4 in February.

The indicator measuring current living standards rose two points to 89 in March and that concerning the outlook for living standards increased one points to 95.

Consumer sentiment related to future household income remained unchanged at 96 and future spending index grew three points to 107.

Consumer sentiment concerning current domestic conditions increased nine points to 72 and future domestic economic conditions rose three points to 93.

The expected inflation rate for the following year was 2.1 percent versus 2.0 percent a month ago.

The survey was conducted among 2,500 households between March 9 and 16.

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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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JAPAN PRODUCER PRICES JUMP 1.0% ON YEAR IN MARCH



Producer prices in Japan were up 1.0 percent on year in March, the Bank of Japan said on Monday - exceeding expectations for 0.5 percent following the upwardly revised 0.6 percent contraction in February (originally -0.7 percent).

On a monthly basis, producer prices jumped 0.8 percent - again exceeding expectations for 0.4 percent and up from 0.6 percent in the previous month.

Export prices were up 2.8 percent on month and 5.5 percent on year, the bank said, while import prices advanced 3.8 percent on month and 5.6 percent on year.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: UK GDP, FOREIGN TRADE DATA DUE



Monthly GDP, foreign trade and industrial production from the UK are due on Tuesday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK monthly GDP estimate, industrial output and external trade figures. The economy is forecast to grow 0.6 percent on month in February, reversing a 2.9 percent fall in January.

The UK industrial output is forecast to grow 0.5 percent in February, reversing a 1.5 percent drop in the previous month. The visible trade deficit is seen at GBP 10.4 billion versus -GBP 9.82 billion in January.

In the meantime, Germany's wholesale price data for March is due.

At 3.00 am ET, consumer price data is due from the Czech Republic. Inflation is forecast to rise to 2.4 percent in March from 2.1 percent in February.

At 4.00 am ET, Italy's Istat publishes industrial output data for February. Economists forecast industrial output to climb 0.7 percent month-on-month, but slower than the 1 percent increase in January.

At 5.00 am ET, Germany's ZEW economic confidence survey results are due. The economic sentiment index is forecast to rise to 79 in April from 76.6 in March.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: EUROZONE INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT DATA DUE



Industrial production from euro area is due on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain's INE releases final consumer prices for March. According to flash estimate, consumer prices grew 1.3 percent year-on-year, the fastest since April 2019. Half an hour later, Statistics Sweden is set to issue consumer prices for March. Inflation is expected to rise to 1.7 percent from 1.4 percent in February.

At 4.30 am ET, the Office for National Statistics publishes UK labor productivity for the fourth quarter.

At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat is scheduled to release euro area industrial production for February. Economists forecast output to fall 1.1 percent month-on-month, reversing a 0.8 percent rise in January.

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AUSTRALIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 5.6% IN MARCH



The jobless rate in Australia came in at a seasonally adjusted 5.6 percent in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

That was lower than expectations for 5.7 percent and down from 5.8 percent in February.

The Australian economy added 70,700 jobs last month - far surpassing forecasts for the addition of 35,000 jobs following the increase of 88,700 jobs in February.

The participation rate came in at 66.3 percent - again topping expectations for 66.1 percent, which would have been unchanged from the previous month.

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CHINA GDP JUMPS 18.3% ON YEAR IN Q1



China's gross domestic product expanded 18.3 percent on year in the first quarter of 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday.

That was shy of estimates for a jump of 19.0 percent but was up sharply from the 6.5 percent growth in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The bureau also said that industrial production was up 14.1 percent on year in March - missing forecasts for a gain of 17.2 percent and slowing from the 35.1 percent growth in February.

Retail sales skyrocketed 34.2 percent on year in March, exceeding expectations for a gain of 28.0 percent and up from 33.8 percent in the previous month.

Fixed asset investment jumped an annual 25.8 percent, beating forecasts for 25.0 percent and down from 35.0 percent a month earlier.

The jobless rate in China fell to 5.3 percent in March from 5.5 percent in February.

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JAPAN HAS Y663.7 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT IN MARCH



Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 663.7 billion yen in March, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.

That exceeded expectations for a surplus of 490.0 billion yen following the downwardly revised 215.9 billion yen surplus in February (originally 217.4 billion yen).

Exports jumped 16.1 percent on year to 7.378 trillion yen, beating forecasts for an increase 11.6 percent following the 4.5 percent decline in the previous month.

Imports gained an annual 5.7 percent to 6.714 trillion yen versus expectations for 4.7 percent following the 11.8 percent increase a month earlier.

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CHINA MAINTAINS BENCHMARK LENDING RATES



China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged, as widely expected, on Tuesday.

The one-year loan prime rate was retained at 3.85 percent and the five-year loan prime rate was maintained at 4.65 percent.

The one-year and five-year loan prime rates were last lowered in April 2020. The one-year loan prime rate was cut by 20 basis points and five-year rate by 10 basis points last April.

Markets have expected the rates to remain on hold today as the People's Bank of China had kept the rate on its medium-term lending facility unchanged early this month.

The loan prime rate is fixed monthly based on the submission of 18 banks, though Beijing has influence over the rate-setting. This new lending rate replaced the central bank's traditional benchmark lending rate in August 2019.

"Given that official efforts to rein in credit are being achieved by other means, we do not expect any changes to policy rates in the coming months," Julian Evans-Pritchard and Sheana Yue, economists at Capital Economics, said.

With the economy doing well, policymakers are now focused on tackling financial risks, they noted.

Even in the absence of rate hikes, tighter credit conditions will become an increasing headwind to economic activity over the coming quarters, the economists added.

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EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: UK CONSUMER PRICE DATA DUE



Consumer and producer prices from the UK are due on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics publishes UK consumer and producer price data. Consumer price inflation is forecast to double to 0.8 percent in March from 0.4 percent in February. UK output price inflation is seen at 1.7 percent in March versus 0.9 percent in the previous month. At the same time, input price inflation is expected to climb to 4.4 percent from 2.6 percent.

At 4.00 am ET, industrial production, producer prices and corporate wage figures are due from Poland. Industrial production is forecast to jump 13.1 percent on year, following a 2.7 percent rise in February. Producer price inflation is expected to advance to 3.5 percent from 2 percent.

At 4.30 am ET, the ONS is set to release UK house price data.

At 6.30 am ET, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey gives a keynote speech at a virtual event.

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