South Korea's weak domestic demand constrains job creation

May 13, 2015 01:42 am UTC| Commentary

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% in April, after ticking lower in March from a February high (March: 3.7%; February: 3.9%; January: 3.4%), in line with consensus.The economy was expected to...

Malaysia's GDP growth likely to have risen 5.4% y/y in Q1

May 12, 2015 22:09 pm UTC| Commentary

Malaysia will release Q1 GDP data on 15 May (initially scheduled for 14 May). Q1 GDP growth of 5.4% y/y; this implies that growth slowed to 0.4% q/q on a seasonally adjusted basis from 2.0% in Q4-2014.Private consumption...

US April consumer spending may show continued torpor

May 12, 2015 21:46 pm UTC| Commentary

US Retail sales have disappointed the consensus view for four months in a row, giving the April reading (Wednesday, 08:30 ET) particular importance.A fifth disappointment is expected as the headline dropping 0.2% m/m,...

No change expected in BSP’s policy rate decision

May 12, 2015 21:32 pm UTC| Commentary

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will announce its policy rate decision on 14 May. BSP is expected to keep the reserve repo and special deposit account (SDA) rates on hold at 4% and 2.5%, respectively; it sees no urgency...

India's April trade deficit expected to have narrowed

May 12, 2015 21:15 pm UTC| Commentary

India will release April trade data during the week of 11 May. The trade deficit is expected to have narrowed to USD 9.5bn from USD 11.8bn in March.Exports likely contracted again (declining 20% y/y, versus 21% in March)...

UK March industrial production stronger than expected

May 12, 2015 21:09 pm UTC| Commentary

United Kingdom March industrial production data were stronger than expected (+0.5% m/m; consensus flat), though this largely reflected a bounce in oil and gas production with manufacturing output close to expectations.The...

Euro area GDP is out today

May 12, 2015 20:37 pm UTC| Commentary

The flash estimate is expected to reveal growth of 0.5% q/q, as a confluence of supportive tailwinds propel the recovery to its fastest pace since 2011.There will be limited details accompanying this first release, but it...