Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
US Dollar Gains as Iran Tensions, Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Japan Executives Warn Weak Yen and Currency Volatility Threaten Economy 
BOJ Signals Faster Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Raise September Move Odds 
Trump Unveils $3 Billion U.S. Critical Minerals Push 
Oil Prices Set for Steep Weekly Losses as Hormuz Deal Stalls 
Asian Stocks Slide as Semiconductor Selloff Weighs on South Korea and Japan 
US Job Growth Seen Picking Up in July 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Gold Price Hits Seven-Week High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Fade and Hormuz Deal Hopes Grow 
Japan Posts First Current Account Deficit in 17 Months as Dividend Payments Surge 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await U.S. Jobs Data 
Asian Stocks Cautious Ahead of US Jobs Data as Oil Rises 
US Dollar Falls as Weak July Jobs Report Dents Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as US Dollar Nears Seven-Week Low Ahead of Key Jobs Data 
China Exports Beat July Forecasts as AI Demand Fuels High-Tech Trade 
Hong Kong will announce March CPI inflation on 21 April. The headline inflation y/y is expected to have eased moderately. Food and housing (accounts for almost 60% of CPI weighting basket) likely stayed high offsetting the effect of lower oil prices.
Despite further mortgage tightening measures from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in February, housing prices in particular have been trending higher.
According to Standard Chartered estimates, the headline inflation is seen at 4.5% y/y from 4.6% prior.
The underlying CPI measure, which excludes distortions from one-off government concessions probably edged lower from previous 2.85%.
On the basis of this, 2015 headline inflation is projected to average an elevated level around 3 - 4%, reflecting still-solid domestic demand and minimal spillover from low oil prices.
USD/HKD is currently trading at 7.75125.
