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Asia Week Ahead: Rate Decisions; Flash PMI reports; Inflation Prints

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For this week in Asia, the economic calendar features various macro releases across the region.

Monday brings China's central bank decision on its one- and five-year loan prime rates (LPR).

On Tuesday, Taiwan will post its unemployment rate and export orders for August, while markets will turn to Indonesia's interest rate decision on Wednesday.

Investors also await India's flash PMI, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore's inflation numbers due to arrive mid week.

Thursday features Japan's flash PMI, trade data from Hong Kong, and Singapore's manufacturing activity.

The week will close with Singapore's industrial production for August.

Here's what to watch in the week ahead.

MONDAY, Sept. 21

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) kept its benchmark lending rates at record lows at its monthly fixing on Sunday. The one-year LPR was held at 3%, while the five-year LPR was held at 3.5%.

Elsewhere, Singapore's unemployment rate fell to 1.9% in the second quarter, lower than the government's preliminary estimate of 2%.

India will post its infrastructure output for August later today.

TUESDAY, Sept. 22

Taiwan will release export orders and unemployment rate numbers for August.

Export order growth is projected to edge down to 60.9% from 61.9% previously.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23

Experts at ING project Indonesia to keep its benchmark rate steady at 5.75%, while also maintaining its projection of a 25 basis point hike in the fourth quarter.

The projection stems from renewed pressure on the Indonesian rupiah as the U.S. dollar strengthens, external balances remain weak, and foreign exchange reserves dwindle.

Bank Indonesia's Governor Destry Damayanti is expected to highlight various risks including a restrictive financial environment globally and geopolitical tensions, according to DBS economists. However, the domestic economy remains somewhat resilient.

Taiwan's industrial output for the month of August may see a year over year boost to 29.4%, according to ING forecasts.

Singapore will publish inflation numbers, with headline inflation expected to edge up to 2.3% in August from 2.2% previously, economists at ING projected. Core CPI will likely increase to 2.1% from 2%.

Hong Kong will also post inflation data, with CPI expected to increase slightly to 1.8% in August from 1.7% in the previous month as consumption sentiment strengthens, DBS projections showed.

Elsewhere, India's HSBC flash PMI will arrive, as well as South Korea's consumer confidence numbers.

THURSDAY, Sept. 24

Hong Kong will publish import and export data for August, with export growth projected at 53.2% year over year in August from 50.7% in July, according to a DBS forecast. Import growth is also estimated to remain strong.

Japan's S&P Global flash PMI will arrive, as well as Singapore's manufacturing output.

FRIDAY, Sept. 25

Singapore will post industrial production data for the month of August.

What else is happening in International?

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^NZ50
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ASX 200