Markets Overview

Australia has June retail sales data due at 9.30am Singaporetime, expected to see a nominal 0.3% m/m after 0.2% in May.

    US markets receive jobless claims and factory orders data,neither of which is likely to trigger a major market reaction.

    However, clear focus remains on the July employment reporton Friday with expectations holding for a 180k non-farmpayrolls result, alongside a 4.9% unemployment reading.

    After the quick succession of releases in recent days,data calendar in Asia will be light today (Thur 4 Aug), withonly China’s current account balance for 2Q due, with littleattention on this release as China is seen maintaining asurplus position into the future. Instead, market attention willbe on Bank of England later this evening, as the central bankis widely expected to take action to counter the impact ofBrexit.