On Monday, from Australia, New Motor Vehicle Sales data was published. The January 2016 trend estimate (97 973) has increased by 0.2% when compared with December 2015. When comparing national trend estimates for January 2016 with December 2015, sales of Passenger vehicles decreased by 0.6% and Sports utility and Other vehicles increased by 0.2% and 1.6% respectively. The largest upward movement across all states and territories, on a trend basis, was in South Australia (1.5%) which has been trending upwards since August 2015.
From China
Trade Balance figures were released. A slide in China’s exports in January was eclipsed by an even bigger tumble in imports, leaving a record trade surplus for the world’s biggest trading nation. Overseas shipments declined 11.2% in January in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, the customs administration said on Monday, compared with a 1.4% drop in December.
Imports extended a stretch of declines to 15 months, tumbling 18.8%, leaving a record trade surplus of $63.3 billion.
Tomorrow's session will bring RBA Meeting Minutes which should bring some volatility to the markets. In the US session Empire State Manufacturing Index data will be published. Increase to -10.3 is predicted.
Figures to watch:
Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes (Tuesday 1:30)
Empire State Manufacturing Index (Tuesday 14:30)