China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
South Korea Inflation Edges Up in November as Food and Service Costs Climb 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Trump Administration Plans Major Rollback of Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Japan’s Finance Minister Signals Alignment With BOJ as Rate Hike Speculation Grows 
Hong Kong will announce March CPI inflation on 21 April. The headline inflation y/y is expected to have eased moderately. Food and housing (accounts for almost 60% of CPI weighting basket) likely stayed high offsetting the effect of lower oil prices.
Despite further mortgage tightening measures from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in February, housing prices in particular have been trending higher.
According to Standard Chartered estimates, the headline inflation is seen at 4.5% y/y from 4.6% prior.
The underlying CPI measure, which excludes distortions from one-off government concessions probably edged lower from previous 2.85%.
On the basis of this, 2015 headline inflation is projected to average an elevated level around 3 - 4%, reflecting still-solid domestic demand and minimal spillover from low oil prices.
USD/HKD is currently trading at 7.75125.
