Japan Industrial Production On Tap For Monday

(RTTNews) - Japan will on Monday release preliminary November numbers for industrial production, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Industrial production is expected to fall 0.5 percent on month and rise 1.6 percent on year following the 1.4 percent monthly increase and the 1.4 percent yearly decline in October.

Japan also will see November figures for retail sales, which are expected to slip 0.7 percent on month and gain 0.4 percent on year. That follows the 1.1 percent monthly increase and the 1.0 percent yearly gain in October. Sales from large retailers are tipped to ease 0.2 percent on year after climbing 2.9 percent in the previous month.

Hong Kong will provide November data for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to fall 7.1 percent on year after slipping 8.5 percent in October. Exports are called lower by 2.6 percent after falling 3.7 percent in the previous month. The trade deficit is pegged at 36.9 billion Hong Kong dollars, down from the 29.6 billion HKD shortfall a month earlier.

Finally, the markets in New Zealand and Australia remain closed in observance of Boxing Day, and will re-open on Tuesday.