Elsewhere, attention will be on any political signals ahead of President Trump’s scheduled summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month.
Australia / New Zealand
The week ahead in Australia will once again be dominated by communication from Reserve Bank of Australia officials.
RBA Governor Michele Bullock will appear before parliament Friday, with her remarks likely to shape expectations for an interest-rate increase at the central bank’s Sept. 28-29 policy meeting.
Recent comments from key RBA officials have strengthened expectations that the central bank will deliver its fourth rate increase this month, with some analysts predicting a fifth in November.
The parliamentary appearance comes as central banks in major economies either raise interest rates further or signal that they are preparing to do so.
Worsening hostilities in the Middle East will also concern the RBA, which is wary of faster price growth expectations while inflation remains well above its 2.5% target.
RBA Chief Economist Sarah Hunter will also speak Monday. Her recent remarks have been hawkish.
In New Zealand, second-quarter gross-domestic-product data will be closely watched for the effects of higher interest rates and global shocks on economic activity.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee will deliver the city’s first five-year economic and social-development plan alongside his annual policy address Wednesday.
The plan could include quantifiable economic and social targets if Hong Kong follows mainland China’s approach, ANZ Research Chief Economist for Greater China Raymond Yeung said.
As Hong Kong adopts a new economic-governance framework, policy is likely to become more proactive, moving away from the city’s traditionally minimalist approach through increased public spending and countercyclical measures, Yeung said.
The plan is also likely to focus on strengthening Hong Kong’s roles as an international financial center, an innovation and technology hub, and an international trade center, Citi Research analysts said.
Taiwan
The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will announce its interest-rate decision Thursday, with some economists expecting an increase.
The central bank left rates unchanged for a ninth consecutive quarter in June, saying it expected inflationary pressure to remain moderate and economic growth to stay robust.
Taiwan has benefited significantly from the artificial-intelligence supply chain, which has powered its economic growth. In August, the government raised its 2026 growth forecast to 11.05% from 9.64%.
Still, the latest data showed inflation remained elevated in August, strengthening the case for a rate increase. Consumer prices rose 2.04% from a year earlier, marking a fourth consecutive month in which inflation exceeded 2%.
The central bank could raise its policy rate by 12.5 basis points to 2.125%, as robust growth gives policymakers scope to focus on rising inflation risks, Commerzbank Research analysts said.
Although inflation eased to around 2% in August, the slowdown largely reflected temporary food-related base effects that should fade in the coming months, they said. Weather-related supply risks and renewed geopolitical uncertainty could also keep food and energy inflation elevated, they added.
Citi economists, however, expect the central bank to stand pat, partly because imported energy costs remain heavily subsidized.
Although core inflation continues to accelerate, the central bank is likely to emphasize that inflation generated by global AI demand is externally driven and doesn’t necessarily indicate that Taiwan’s domestic economy is overheating, Citi said.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s August inflation could pick up to 1.96% from 1.8% in July, driven by higher electricity charges, ANZ economist Zhaopeng Xing said in a note.
The combination of robust growth and subdued inflation supported Bank Negara Malaysia’s decision to keep rates unchanged last week. However, persistently elevated commodity prices could add to cost pressures, raising the risk of a 25 basis-point rate hike in November, he added.
Exports are expected to remain supported through year-end by resilient manufactured-goods shipments, particularly electrical and electronic products, alongside continued strength in commodity exports, RHB senior economist Chin Yee Sian says in a note.
The global technology upcycle and artificial-intelligence-driven semiconductor demand should continue to support electrical and electronic exports, she added.
Singapore
Singapore will release its August non-oil domestic exports data Thursday.
July’s data showed that NODX growth accelerated on strong AI-related demand, marking a firm start to the second half.
NODX growth likely accelerated to 35.0% from a year earlier in August, up from 24.2% in July, DBS economists said. Favorable base effects are expected to have contributed to the acceleration, they added.
India
A slew of inflation data for August are due from India which will be closely watched for rising price pressures.
The headline consumer price index is likely to rise to 4.7% on year, driven primarily by food?price pressures linked to weak monsoons, as well as the spillover from higher fuel costs into core inflation, ING economists said.
“A gradual broadening of price pressures is likely to keep inflation readings above 5% in [the] second half of the fiscal year, underscoring the need for a tighter policy bias,” DBS Group Research said.
Foreign trade data is also due, which DBS expects to show a wide goods trade deficit at $30 billion, reflecting an improvement in exports coupled with a rising energy import bill.
Any references to days are in local times.
Write to Jessica Fleetham at jessica.fleetham@wsj.com and Jihye Lee at jihye.lee@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
09-13-26 1714ET