Forex News from InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 09-03-20, 03:36

Japan Has Y612.3 Billion Current Account Surplus

Japan had a current account surplus of 612.3 billion yen in January, the ministry of Finance said on Monday - up 6.6 percent on year.

That was shy of expectations for 623.5 billion yen and up from 524.0 billion yen in December.

The trade balance reflected a deficit of 985.1 billion yen - also missing forecasts for a shortfall of 962.0 billion yen following the 120.7 billion yen surplus in the previous month.

The adjusted current account saw a surplus of 1,626.8 billion yen, shy of forecasts for 1,664.1 billion yen and down from 1,852.0 billion yen a month earlier.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 18-03-20, 10:49

Italy Industrial Orders Rise For Second Month

Italy's industrial orders rose for the second straight month in January, figures from Istat showed on Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted industrial orders rose 1.2 percent in January, slower than 1.3 percent in December.

Orders from the domestic market rose 3.7 percent and those from the foreign market increase 9.1 percent.

On an annual basis, industrial orders fell 1.8 percent in January, after a 5.7 percent rise in the preceding month.

Data also showed that the industrial sales grew 5.3 percent month-on-month in January, after a 2.8 percent fall in the previous month. Economists had expected a 0.1 percent decline.

On a year-on-year basis, industrial sales rose 3.8 percent in January, after a 1.5 percent decrease in the prior month. Economists had expected a 0.9 percent fall.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 25-03-20, 06:31

Malaysia Inflation Slows In February

Malaysia's consumer price inflation slowed in February, figures from the Department of Statistics showed on Wednesday.

The consumer price index rose 1.3 percent year-on-year in February, after a 1.6 percent increase in January. Economists had expected a 1.4 percent rise.

Among the main groups, prices for miscellaneous goods and services grew 2.5 percent annually in February. Prices for transport rose 2.4 percent and those of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and communication increased 1.6 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

On a month-on-month basis, consumer prices remained unchanged in February.

The core CPI rose 1.3 percent annually in February.

News are provided by InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 27-03-20, 05:25

Tokyo Overall Inflation Gains 0.4% On Year In March

Overall consumer prices in the Tokyo region of Japan were up 0.4 percent on year in March, the Ministry of Communications and Internal Affairs said on Friday.

That exceeded expectations for an increase of 0.3 percent and was unchanged from the February reading.

Core CPI, which excludes volatile food prices, also advanced an annual 0.4 percent. That was in line with expectations and down from 0.5 percent in the previous month.

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, overall inflation was up 0.1 percent and core CPI was unchanged.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 31-03-20, 07:54

China Manufacturing PMI 52.0 In March

The manufacturing sector in China moved back into expansion in March, the latest survey from the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 52.0 - beating forecasts for 45.0.

That's up sharply from 35.7 in February, and it moves back above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

The non-manufacturing PMI came in at 52.3, also exceeding expectations for 42.0 and up from 29.6 in the previous month.

The composite PMI posted a score of 53.0, up from 28.9 a month prior.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 02-04-20, 07:15

South Korea Inflation Data Due On Thursday

South Korea will on Thursday release March numbers for consumer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, overall inflation was flat on month and up 1.1 percent on year, while core CPI added 0.1 percent on month and gained 0.5 percent on year.

Japan will provide March figures for monetary base; in February, the monetary base climbed 3.6 percent on year.

Australia will see February figures for job vacancies; in January, vacancies were up 1.6 percent on month.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 03-04-20, 07:48

Singapore Retail Sales Decrease In February

Singapore retail sales decline at the fastest pace in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday.

Retail sales declined 8.6 percent year-on-year in February, following a 5.3 percent fall in January.

Motor vehicle sales rose 1.3 percent annually in February, following a 33.6 percent fall in the previous month.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales decreased 10.2 percent in February, after a 0.6 percent increase in the preceding month.

Sales of wearing apparel and footwear declined the most by 41.0 percent in February and those of food and alcohol, and department stores decreased 40.5 percent and 36.3 percent, respectively.

On a monthly basis, retail sales dropped 8.9 percent in February, after a 0.2 percent rise in the prior month.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 13-04-20, 07:20

Malaysia Industrial Production Rises In February

Malaysia's industrial production grew at a faster-than-expected pace in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Monday.

Industrial production rose 5.8 percent year-on-year in February, following a 0.6 percent increase in January. Economists had expected a 0.7 percent rise.

Manufacturing output grew 5.6 percent in February, following a 2.2 percent rise in the previous month.

Among other sectors, mining and quarrying output increased 6.1 percent and electricity output rose 6.8 percent.

Sales of textile, wearing apparels, leather and footwear gained 6.7 percent and those of petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic, and wood, furniture, paper products and printing grew by 6.3 percent, each.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 14-04-20, 07:28

Malaysia Jobless Rate Rises In February

Malaysia's unemployment rate rose in February, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Tuesday.

The jobless rate rose to 3.3 percent in February from 3.2 percent in January. A similar rate of unemployment was seen in the same month last year.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, jobless rate rose marginally to 3.3 percent in February from 3.2 percent in the previous month.

The number of unemployed increased to 525,200 in February from 511,700 in the previous month.

The number of employed increased to 15.34 million in February from 15.31 million in the prior month.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 16-04-20, 06:36

UK Retail Sales Decline At Record Pace: BRC

British retail sales declined at a record pace in March due to measures taken to fight the spread of coronavirus, data from the British Retail Consortium, or BRC, showed Thursday. According to BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, retail sales decreased 4.3 percent on a yearly basis in March, the sharpest fall since records began in 1995.

At the same time, like-for-like sales declined 3.5 percent from the same period last year.

"The headline figure masked even more dramatic swings: food and essentials faced an unprecedented surge in demand in the early part of March, only to drop significantly into negative growth after the lockdown and introduction of social distancing in stores," Helen Dickinson, chief executive at BRC, said.

The closure of non-essential shops led to deserted high streets and high double-digit declines in sales, which even a rise in online shopping could not compensate for, Dickinson added.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 17-04-20, 06:48

China GDP Contracts 9.8% In Q21

China's gross domestic product was down a seasonally adjusted 9.8 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2020, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday.

That was in line with expectations following the 1.5 percent gain in the three months prior.

On a yearly basis, GDP sank 6.8 percent - missing expectations for a drop of 6.0 percent following the 6.0 percent increase in the previous three months.

The bureau also said that fixed asset investment tumbled an annual 16.1 percent in March, shy of forecasts for a decline of 15.0 percent following the 24.5 percent plunge in February.

Industrial production dipped 1.1 percent on year, beating forecasts for a fall of 5.8 percent after dropping 13.5 percent in the previous month.

Retail sales plunged 15.8 percent on year, missing forecasts for a fall of 10.0 percent after skidding 20.5 percent a month earlier.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 28-12-20, 07:01

JAPAN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FLAT ON MONTH IN NOVEMBER

Industrial production in Japan was unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis in November, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Monday.

That missed expectations for an increase of 1.2 percent following the 4.0 percent gain in October.

On a yearly basis, industrial production sank 3.4 percent, matching forecasts following the 3.0 percent drop in the previous month.

Upon the release of the data, the METI maintained its assessment of industrial production, saying that it is picking up.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 30-12-20, 06:19

SOUTH KOREA RETAIL SALES SINK 1.0% IN NOVEMBER

The value of retail sales in South Korea was down a seasonally adjusted 1.0 percent on month in November, Statistics Korea said on Wednesday.

That follows the 0.9 percent contraction in the previous month.

On a yearly basis, retail sales skidded 1.5 percent after dropping 0.2 percent a month earlier.

News are provided by
InstaForex.

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 11-01-21, 06:41

CHINA CONSUMER PRICES RISE 0.2% ON YEAR IN DECEMBER

Consumer prices in China were up 0.2 percent on year in December, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.

That exceeded expectations for an increase of 0.1 percent following the 0.5 percent contraction in November.

On a monthly basis, inflation was up 0.7 percent - again beating forecasts for an increase of 0.4 percent following the 0.6 percent decline in the previous month.

The bureau also said that producer prices were down 0.4 percent on year, beating forecasts for a fall of 0.8 percent after sinking 1.5 percent a month earlier.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 13-01-21, 06:36

SOUTH KOREA UNEMPLOYMENT DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY

South Korea will on Wednesday release unemployment figures for December, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The jobless rate in November was 4.1 percent.

Japan will see December numbers for machine tool orders; in November, orders were up 8.0 percent on year.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 05-02-21, 06:58

EUROPEAN ECONOMICS PREVIEW: GERMANY FACTORY ORDERS DATA DUE

Factory orders from Germany and Halifax house prices from the UK are due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is slated to issue Germany's factory orders for December. Economists forecast orders to fall 1 percent on month, reversing a 2.3 percent rise in November. In the meantime, industrial production data is due from Statistics Norway.

At 2.45 am ET, current account and foreign trade reports are due from France.

At 3.00 am ET, retail sales from the Czech Republic and industrial production from Hungary are due.

Hungary's industrial output is forecast to climb 2.0 percent annually in December, following a 3.5 percent rise in November.

Half an hour later, UK Halifax house price report is due. Monthly house price growth is seen at 0.3 percent in January versus +0.2 percent in December. Also, Statistics Sweden publishes industrial production and orders at 3.30 am.

At 4.00 am ET, Italy's Istat releases retail sales data for December. Sales had dropped 6.9 percent on month in November.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 08-02-21, 06:16

FITCH MAINTAINS JAPAN'S SOVEREIGN RATINGS

Fitch Ratings maintained the sovereign ratings of Japan with a 'negative' outlook on Monday.

The ratings were retained at 'A' citing the strengths of an advanced and wealthy economy, with correspondingly robust governance standards and public institutions.

Fitch affirmed a 'negative' outlook on Japan's ratings, given continued downside risks to the macroeconomic and fiscal outlook from the coronavirus shock.

The agency expects the large fiscal support to be unwound gradually, but downside risks to growth exacerbate the challenge of placing the debt ratio on a downward path over the medium term.

After a 5.3 percent fall in 2020, Fitch forecast the economy to rebound by 3.5 percent in 2021 and 1.5 percent in 2022, supported by continued overseas demand for Japanese exports, which have recovered over recent months.

Fitch estimated government debt to have jumped to 254.8 percent of GDP in 2020 from 231.2 percent in 2019, the highest pre-pandemic debt ratio among Fitch-rated sovereigns. The debt is forecast to peak at 258.6 percent in 2023.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 01-03-21, 06:26

CHINA MANUFACTURING PMI SLOWS IN FEBRUARY - CAIXIN

The manufacturing sector in China continued to expand in February, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Monday with a manufacturing PMI score of 50.9.

That's down from 51.5 in January, although it remains above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.

Individually, output expanded modestly amid a softer rise in new work as the pandemic weighed on export sales and supplier performance.

Greater prices for raw materials and higher transport costs led to a further substantial rise in input costs. As a result, prices charged by manufacturers rose solidly as companies looked to partially pass on higher cost burdens to customers.

Business confidence improved on hopes for a global economic recovery in the months ahead.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 15-03-21, 06:19

JAPAN CORE MACHINE ORDERS SLIP 4.5% ON MONTH IN JANUARY

The value of core machine orders in Japan was down a seasonally adjusted 4.5 percent on month in January, the Cabinet Office said on Monday - coming in at 2,397.4 billion yen.

That exceeded expectations for a decline of 5.5 percent following the upwardly revised 5.3 percent increase in December (originally 5.2 percent).

On a yearly basis, core machine orders climbed 1.5 percent - again beating forecasts for a decline of 0.2 percent after spiking 11.8 percent in the previous month.

The forecast for Q1 2021 core machine orders suggests a decline of 6.0 percent on quarter and 5.2 percent on year.

News are provided by InstaForex

**InstaForex Gertrude** · 24-05-21, 07:35

NEW ZEALAND RETAIL SALES CLIMB 2.5% ON QUARTER IN Q1

The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand was up a seasonally adjusted 2.5 percent on quarter in the first quarter of 2021, Statistics New Zealand said on Monday - following the upwardly revised 2.6 percent contraction in the three months prior (originally -2.7 percent).

By industry, the main movements were: electrical and electronic goods, up 8.4 percent; recreational goods, up 16 percent; hardware, building, and garden supplies, up 4.5 percent; and department stores, up 5.6 percent.

The total value of retail sales also was up 2.5 percent on quarter ($648 million).

On a yearly basis, sales rose 6.8 percent - accelerating from 4.8 percent in the three months prior.

News are provided by InstaForex