Hong Kong Trade Data On Tap For Thursday

(RTTNews) - Hong Kong will on Thursday release February figures for import, exports and trade balance, highlighting a busy day in Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Imports are expected to gain 4.7 percent on year after climbing 7.9 percent in January. Exports are called higher by 3.0 percent after gaining 2.8 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to show a deficit of 55 billion Hong Kong dollars following the 37 billion HKD shortfall a month earlier.

The central bank of Taiwan will wrap up its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at 1.875.

The central bank in the Philippines also will conclude its monetary policy meeting and give its decision on its benchmark interest rate. The bank is tipped to keep the benchmark unchanged at 4.0 percent.

Thailand will provide February figures for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to dip 1.8 percent on year after tumbling 13.33 percent in January. Exports are tipped to fall 3.2 percent after losing 3.46 percent in the previous month. The trade balance is expected to show a surplus of $1.576 billion following the $457 million deficit a month earlier.

Singapore will release February data for industrial production, with analysts expecting an increase of 1.3 percent on month and a decline of 2.2 percent on year. That follows the 4.7 percent monthly decline and the 0.9 percent annual increase in January.