Separate quarterly report on Wage Prices showed that the seasonally adjusted index for Australia rose 0.6% in the December quarter 2014, in line with market forecasts. The Private sector rose 0.6% seasonally adjusted, and the Public sector rose 0.7%. The rises in indexes at the industry level (in original terms) ranged from 0.2% for Accommodation and food services to 1.2% for Information media and telecommunications.
Also, from China Manufacturing PMI data was published. The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI improved slightly to 50.1 in the flash reading for February, up from 49.7 in January. Analysts were expecting no significant change. Domestic demand firmed while new export orders contracted for the first time since April 2014. Both input and output prices remain in contraction.
From Australia, on Thursday, Private Capital Expenditure data was released. Latest release on Private Capital Expenditure showed that in the trend volume total new capital expenditure fell 0.8% in the December quarter 2014 while the seasonally adjusted estimate fell 2.2%, thus missing expectations on 1.7% decline. This followed two consecutive quarters of increase.
This week markets will be looking at:
Company Operating Profits (Monday 1:30)
HSBC Final Manufacturing PMI (Monday 2:45)
Building Approvals (Tuesday 1:30)
Current Account (Tuesday 1:30)
Cash Rate/RBA Rate Statement (Tuesday 4:30)
GDP (Wednesday 1:30)
Retail Sales (Thursday 1:30)
Trade Balance (Thursday 14:30)
