Malaysia Rate Decision Due On Wednesday

(RTTNews) - The central bank in Malaysia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting on Wednesday and then announce its decision on interest rates, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 3.00 percent.

Malaysia also will see December figures for consumer prices; in November, inflation was down 0.1 percent on month and up 1.8 percent on year.

Taiwan will release December data for unemployment; in November, the jobless rate was 3.41 percent.

New Zealand will provide Q4 numbers for consumer prices, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.5 percent on quarter and 2.1 percent on year - easing from 0.6 percent on quarter and 2.2 percent on year in Q3.