Markets Overview

HIGHLIGHTS AHEAD

    The Easter break starts early for some countries, including Norwayand Spain, who are off on holiday observing Maundy Thursday. Swedenhas a half day. The European data docket remains bare otherwise.

    In the US, being Thursday, the latest weekly jobless claims report willcome to focus, and will help condition sentiment ahead of tomorrow’spayrolls data. We will also see the release of February trade data andFebruary factory orders.

    March HSBC PMI for Hong Kong (Feb: 50.7) and India (Feb: 51.2)are due for release today. Singapore’s March PMI (Consensus: 49.6;Feb: 49.7) is scheduled for release at 9pm.

    On Friday, the attention is on China’s HSBC/Markit Services PMI (Feb:52.0) and Malaysia’s February trade data. Export is expected to declineby 1.4% y/y (Jan: -0.6%) while import is likely to rebound 1.7% y/y (Jan:-5.3%). Malaysia is expected to record a trade surplus of MYR8.5 bn inFebruary compared to MYR9.01 bn in January.

    Markets in India and the Philippines are closed today. Countries includingHong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, UK and US will beon holiday this Friday. China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand are onholiday next Monday.