From China, on Tuesday, CPI and PPI figures were released. China's consumer price index rose 1.4% on year, beating expectations of a 1% rise. However, wholesale prices, or the producer price index (PPI), fell 4.8% in February, worse than the average forecast of a 4.3%. A plunge in oil prices, weak consumption and a slowing property sector have driven prices lower in recent months, even as China's economy braces for slower growth this year.
Earlier on Tuesday, from Australia, NAB Business Confidence figures were released. National Australia Bank's monthly survey of more than 400 firms showed its index of business confidence dropped three points to zero in February, even as its measure of business conditions held steady at +2.
There were no data releases from Australia on Wednesday, however from China Industrial Production figures were published. China's Industrial Production rose 6.8% in the two-month period from a year earlier, missing expectations on 7.7% increase. The two-month industrial output reading shows the slowest start to a year since 2009. Retail sales advanced 10.7%, while fixed-asset investment increased 13.9%.
Focus of Thursday's session was on Australian job figures. Number of employed in Australia increased 15,600 to 11,652,400 from a revised January 2015 estimate, in line with market forecasts. Full-time employment increased 10,300 to 8,062,000 and part-time employment increased 5,300 to 3,590,400 from a revised January 2015 estimate. However, Unemployment Rate fell to 6.3%, beating predictions on remaining unchanged at 6.4%.
This week markets will be looking at:
New Motor Vehicle Sales (Monday 1:30)
