Industrial production and Retail sales, both for March were out earlier:
- Japan data - Retail sales for March % m/m (vs. expected 0.0%)
- Japan data - March Industrial Production (preliminary): -0.9% m/m (expected 0.0%)
A little more, via Reuters :
- factory output fell in March for the first time in two months
- 3.4 percent decline in car output
- 6.7 percent decline in the production of machines used to make semiconductors and flat-panel displays
- inventories rose at the fastest pace in a year
- fastest increase in a year
- higher inventories of metals, plastics, and heavy equipment
- rise in inventories suggests makers of these goods could curb output in the future
And:
- The mounting pressure on Japan's economy from weak external demand has hurt exports and threatens corporate profits, which could weigh on capital expenditure and make it more difficult to keep growth on track, analysts say.
- Friday's batch of data comes a day after the Bank of Japan said it would keep interest rates low for at least another year, in a move to dispel uncertainty over its commitment to support the economy and drive inflation.
Also:
- Japan data - Jobless Rate for March: 2.5%(expected 2.4%)
- Japan data - Tokyo area CPI headline 1.4% y/y (expected 1.1)
And, ICYMI, today is the last day for Japanese financial markets to trade until May7!
