From Australia Home Loans and Westpac Consumer Sentiment figures were released. Australian Home Loans fell by 3.9% in February, thus missing forecasts on 2.7% decrease. The trend estimate for the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions fell 0.6%. Owner occupied housing commitments fell 0.1% and investment housing commitments fell 1.6%. In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions fell 3.4%.
Separate report for
Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment showed that it fell by 2.2% in March from 101.3 in February to 99.1 in March. The Index is back to around its average reading over the last six months. Following the change of leadership of the Federal Government in September the Index lifted by 8.3% over the subsequent two months. It has broadly held those gains with today’s reading off that high in November by 2.5% although we are now slightly back in the region where pessimists outnumber optimists.
There will be no data releases from Australia tomorrow, but we would pay attention to developments in China. In the US session Unemployment Claims figures are scheduled for a release. Decline to 272,000 is forecasted.
Figures to watch:
Unemployment Claims (Thursday 14:30)