Australia Inflation Data Due On Wednesday

(RTTNews) - Australia will on Wednesday release inflation data for the fourth quarter of 2014, headlining a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Consumer prices are expected to add 0.3 percent on quarter and 1.8 percent on year after rising 0.5 percent on quarter and 2.3 percent on year in the previous three months.

The RBA's weighted median is expected to add 0.5 percent on quarter and 2.2 percent on year, slowing from 0.6 percent on quarter and 2.6 percent on year in the three months prior.

The trimmed mean is also called higher by 0.5 percent on quarter and 2.2 percent on year, after gaining 0.4 percent on quarter and 2.5 percent on year.

Australia also will see December figures for skilled vacancies; in November, vacancies were down 0.8 percent on month.

The central bank in Malaysia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on its benchmark interest rate. The bank is widely expected to keep rates unchanged at 3.25 percent.

Thailand's central bank will conclude its monetary policy meeting and then announce its decision on its benchmark interest rate. The bank is widely expected to hold the rate steady at 2.0 percent.