Japan Data On Tap For Friday

(RTTNews) - Japan will on Friday release March numbers for household spending and unemployment, as well as April figures for monetary base to set the pace for a modest day in Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Household spending is expected to rise 1.0 percent on year after shedding 2.5 percent in February. The jobless rate is tipped to hold steady at 3.6 percent. The monetary base in March surged 54.8 percent on year.

Australia will see Q1 figures for producer prices, as well as March numbers for new home sales. PPI is tipped to gain 0.6 percent on quarter and 2.2 percent on year after adding 0.2 percent on quarter and 1.9 percent on year in Q4. New home sales jumped 4.6 percent on month in February.

New Zealand will provide April numbers for commodity prices; in March, prices were down 0.1 percent on month.

Hong Kong will provide March numbers for retail sales, with analysts looking for an increase of 8.5 percent on year following the 2.3 percent contraction in February.

Finally, the markets in China remain closed on Friday for an extended Labor Day holiday. They will re-open on Monday.