Japan Rate Decision On Tap For Monday

(RTTNews) - The Bank of Japan will on Monday wrap up its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The BoJ is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at -0.1 percent, although it may introduce other means of stimulus.

Japan also will see final November numbers for industrial production; the previous reading suggested a decline of 0.9 percent on month and 8.1 percent on year, while capacity utilization also fell 4.5 percent on month.

China will announce January numbers for loan prime rates. The one-year loan prime rate is called at 4.1 percent, down from 4.2 percent in December. The five-year loan prime rate is expected to be unchanged at 4.8 percent.

The central bank in Indonesia will conclude its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on interest rates. The bank is expected to keep its benchmark lending rate steady at 5.00 percent.

Hong Kong will see December data for unemployment; in November, the jobless rate was 3.2 percent.