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Malaysia's Producer Inflation Accelerates to 7.8% in May

The Producer Price Index (PPI) for local production in Malaysia rose 7.8% year over year in May, according to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia released on Monday.The latest print accelerated from the 5.4% increase recorded in the previous month, and was the fastest expansion since June 2022. It also beat the Trading Economics forecast for a 7.2% growth.The year-over-year momentum was driven by a rise in all sectors, particularly by the mining industry, which expanded 52.6%, and the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, which jumped 8.9%.The manufacturing sector increased by 3.5%, while the water supply and electricity and gas supply sectors went up by 11.2% and 10.0%, respectively.On a month-over-month basis, the headline PPI rose 1.1% compared with the 3.2% expansion in the previous month.

FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI

Construction Cost Growth in New Zealand Largely Stabilized in June, QV says

Construction cost growth in major New Zealand centers largely stabilized in June, with key cost rates showing minimal movement, QV said in a report on Monday.Around 11,000 current material prices were applied to QV CostBuilder's construction cost catalogue, covering Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.The price of diesel fell by a further 6.5% in June, which cut costs in more fuel-intensive areas of construction work. Excavation recorded the largest reduction in the month at 1.5%. Site preparation, substructure and exterior works, piling, and demolition also saw small cost reductions."Diesel prices have eased, which has helped bring down costs in the trades that rely heavily on machinery and transport," QV CostBuilder spokesperson Martin Bisset said. "However, diesel remains more than 50% higher than at the start of this year."There were also slight reductions in some concrete-related trades across the six centers. Concrete declined 0.3% due to ready-mixed structural concrete rates falling by 0.7%, while concrete blockwork was down 0.5% due to grout fill rates falling 1.1%.Plumbing rose by 0.5%, mostly due to higher product prices, while carpentry also increased by 0.2% due to several product price increases.

RBNZ Expected to Raise Cash Rate in July, BNZ Research Says

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is expected to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points at its July meeting, according to a Monday report by BNZ Research.In order for the stimulatory monetary policy to not to add to inflation, the cash rate needs to get back to neutral relatively quickly, BNZ said. All key economic data ahead of the meeting have been released and were broadly consistent with the RBNZ's May projections, leading to the expected start of a tightening cycle.The oil futures markets imply that the Dubai Crude price closer to $68 pre barrel might be appropriate, compared with the central bank's assumption of around $101 per barrel across the quarter in May, BNZ said. This drop will have a marked impact on fuel price forecasts and the consumer price index.Falling oil prices are likely to stimulate spending, which adds to the possibility that inflation ceases to be supply driven but instead becomes demand driven.It forecast a 0.2% quarterly increase in the Household Labour Force measure of employment in the June quarter, taking the annual increase to 0.8%, BNZ said.Before the conflict, inflation concerns were already building, and there was a strong argument for higher interest rates even without an oil price shock, it added.

Singapore Export, Import Prices Rise in May

Singapore's export prices rose 14.7% year over year in May, marking the third straight month of growth since March, according to data from the Singapore Department of Statistics on Monday.The latest pace of expansion accelerated from the 13.3% rise in April, but missed the 15% growth forecast by Trading Economics.Meanwhile, import prices jumped 19.1% year over year, quickening from the 18.9% increase in April. It also missed the Trading Economics forecast of a 24% growth.

^STI

Reserve Bank of Australia Outlines Framework for Additional Monetary Policy Tools for Low Interest Rates

The Reserve Bank of Australia said its Monetary Policy Board has disclosed a framework outlining how it would approach the design and use of additional monetary policy tools in a low-interest rate environment, according to a Monday statement from the central bank.The bank said the toolkit features six tools, including term lending facilities, government bond purchase programs, forward guidance with commitment, negative interest rate policy, term rate targets, and foreign exchange asset purchases, with further tools able to be added over time.The Monetary Policy Board could use some of the tools for various purposes, including to stimulate aggregate demand when the policy rate is very low, to address market dysfunction and sustain or repair monetary policy transmission channels, and to meet its statutory obligations of contributing to financial stability, the bank said.When preparing advice for the board, staff will detail options for how tools could be exited, including planning both for the end of the policy and for the return to normal settings, it added.

ASX 200

Total New Zealand Enterprise Count Down in May

Total enterprise count in New Zealand in May was 598,137, down from 591,693 in the same period last year, according to figures released by Stats NZ on Monday.Enterprise entries were at 5,769, up from 5,595 in May 2025.Meanwhile, enterprise exits stood at 10,986, up from 10,620 last year.Rental, hiring, and real estate services had the highest enterprise count in May at 126,807, followed by construction at 78,114, and professional, scientific, and technical services at 67,287.Mining had the lowest enterprise count at 684.

Japan's Retail Sales Growth Quickens to 5.3% in May

Japan's retail sales expanded 5.3% year over year in May to 13.45 trillion yen, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Monday.The reading beat the consensus forecast of 3.1% growth tracked by Investing.com, and compared with a 2.8% increase recorded in the previous month.On a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis, retail sales grew 1.9%, faster than the 1.3% expansion between March and April.

Nikkei 225

China's Industrial Profits Grow 18.8% in January-May Period

Profits of China's major industrial firms grew 18.8% year over year to 3.14 trillion yuan during the first five months of the year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday.The year-to-date pace accelerated compared with the 18.2% expansion recorded in the previous four-month period, but missed the Trading Economics forecast for a 20% growth. In May alone, industrial profits jumped 21% year over year.From January to May, the mining industry achieved a total profit of 479.5 billion yuan, up 33.5% year over year, while the manufacturing industry's profit grew 20% to 2.33 trillion yuan.Meanwhile, the electricity, heat, gas and water production and supply industry recorded a total profit of 335.9 billion yuan, a decrease of 2.7% year over year.

Shanghai Composite^SZSE

New Zealand Filled Jobs Rise in May

The seasonally adjusted number of filled jobs across New Zealand industries rose 0.3% month on month to 2.4 million in May, following a 0.1% decrease in the previous month, data from Stats NZ showed on Monday.Filled jobs in the primary industries remained flat, while goods-producing and service industries rose by 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively.By industry, the largest increase was in public administration and safety, with filled jobs up 3.9%, or 6,337 jobs, compared with May 2025.Meanwhile, total gross earnings rose 3.4% in May on an accrual basis compared with May 2025, while total gross earnings for the same month reached NZ$16.6 billion.

Cargo Traffic to Los Angeles Port Expected to Rise in Week Ending July 11

Cargo traffic at the Port of Los Angeles is expected to rise in the week ending July 11, according to data from ship-tracking system Port Optimizer.A total of 141,100 20-foot equivalent units, a standardized measure of cargo capacity, are projected to reach the port in the week, the data showed. That volume reflects an 18% increase from the previous week and a 19% rise from a year earlier.Twenty-six freight vessels are scheduled to arrive at the port in the week ending July 11, the data showed. That compares with 23 vessels scheduled this week and in the week ending July 4.President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday that numerous European countries are discussing the imminent implementation of a digital services tax on US companies and warned that any country that proceeds with such a tax will face a 100% US tariff regardless of any previous trade deals.

St. Louis Fed US Q2 GDP Nowcast Estimate 1.258% Gain vs Previous 1.429% Gain

Kansas City Fed Services Index Falls in June

The Kansas City Federal Reserve's monthly composite services index fell to a reading of 5 in June after rising to 10 in May, suggesting a slower expansion.The other regional services measures already released have indicated a mixed reading.There was a decrease in the Kansas City revenue/sales reading to 3 from 12, while the employment reading decreased to 1 from 5.The reading of selling prices declined to 16 from 20, while the input price index decreased to 51 from 54. A reading above zero indicates growth.

Kansas City Fed June Services Index Declines to 5 Vs. 8 Expected, 10 Prior

June Michigan Consumer Sentiment Revised Higher From Preliminary Print, Up From May

The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index was revised upwards on Friday to a reading of 49.5 for June from 48.9 in the preliminary estimate, below expectations for a slightly larger revision to 50.0 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.That was also above the final reading of 44.8 in May.The current conditions index was revised downwards to 47.7 from a 48.4 preliminary estimate, above the 45.8 reading in May, while the expectations index was revised upwards to 50.7 from 49.3. The index was 44.1 in May.Respondents expected a 4.6% inflation rate over the next year and 3.3% annual inflation over the next five years, down from 4.8% and 3.9% respectively in May.The twice-monthly Michigan Sentiment index measures consumer sentiment early in the current month (the preliminary estimate) and is then revised later in the month (the final estimate).The headline index is a combination of the current assessment and expectations for the near future. An increase in the reading suggests consumers are more confident, a positive for stocks if that confidence translates into spending.

June Final University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment 49.5 Vs. Expected 50.0, Preliminary 48.9, May 44.8

Correction: US May Advance Trade Gap Larger Than Expected, Inventories Up

(Corrects the first paragraph to state that the May advance trade deficit widened.)The US advance international trade in goods deficit widened to $105.76 billion in May from $83.01 billion in April, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.This was a larger gap than the $85.0 billion deficit expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Exports fell by 5.4% in May while imports rose by 3.6%.In the same report, wholesale inventories rose by 0.3% in May after a 0.7% increase in April. Analysts polled by Bloomberg expected wholesale inventories to increase by 0.4%.Retail inventories were 0.6% higher in May following a 0.7% increase in the previous month. This was a larger increase than the 0.5% increase expected by analysts. Excluding a 1.0% rise in motor vehicle inventories, retail inventories were up by 0.4% in the month.

US May Advance Trade Gap Larger Than Expected, Inventories Up

The US advance international trade in goods deficit narrowed to $105.76 billion in May from $83.01 billion in April, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.This was a larger gap than the $85.0 billion deficit expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Exports fell by 5.4% in May while imports rose by 3.6%.In the same report, wholesale inventories rose by 0.3% in May after a 0.7% increase in April. Analysts polled by Bloomberg expected wholesale inventories to increase by 0.4%.Retail inventories were 0.6% higher in May following a 0.7% increase in the previous month. This was a larger increase than the 0.5% increase expected by analysts. Excluding a 1.0% rise in motor vehicle inventories, retail inventories were up by 0.4% in the month.