Japan Trade Balance On Tap For Wednesday

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Japan is scheduled to release January numbers for its merchandise trade balance on Wednesday, headlining a busy day in Asian economic news.

Analysts are expecting the balance to show a deficit of 136 billion yen following the 544.2 billion yen surplus in December. Exports are tipped to rise 39.5 percent on year after the 12.0 percent increase in the previous month. Imports are seen higher by 12.1 percent on year after the 5.5 percent annual decline a month earlier. The seasonally adjusted trade balance is predicted to show a surplus of 544.5 billion yen following the 522.8 billion yen surplus in December.

Also due from Japan is the corporate service price index for January and small business confidence for February. The CSPI is expected to ease 1.1 percent on year after declining an annual 1.5 percent in December. The confidence survey saw a score of 41.3 in January.

Hong Kong will announce gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter of 2009. Analysts are expecting GDP to add 0.4 percent on quarter and fall 2.4 percent on year after climbing 2 percent on month and 1.5 percent on year in the previous three months.

Malaysia will announce January numbers for its consumer price index and Q4 GDP data. The inflation rate is tipped to come in at 1.5 percent, up from 1.1 percent in December. GDP is expected to climb 3.2 percent on year after shedding 1.2 percent in the previous three months.

(Market News Provided by RTTNews)