Asia markets poised for mixed open as investors await inflation data from the region this week

Asia-Pacific markets were set to open mixed as investors await a slew of inflation reports from the region.

Singapore and Malaysia will release their February inflation reports on Monday, while Australia’s inflation numbers will be out on Wednesday.

Tokyo’s inflation numbers are due Friday. The capital’s inflation numbers are widely seen as a leading indicator of nationwide trends.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.64%, rebounding from Friday’s losses.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was set to fall after climbing on Friday, with the futures contract in Chicago at 40,530 and its counterpart in Osaka at 40,500 against the index’s last close of 40,888.43.

Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 16,515, pointing to a slightly stronger open compared with the HSI’s last close of 16,499.47.

On Friday in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated by over 300 points, or 0.77%, after back to back sessions where the index set all time records. The S&P 500 fell 0.14%.

However, the Nasdaq Composite continued its rally, adding 0.16% to close at 16,428.82 for another record.

“It’s a digestion period after a really strong week,” said Truist’s co-chief investment officer Keith Lerner of Friday’s moves. “Our view is that the overall trend is still positive for the market, especially when you see this breakout of new highs, on track for your fifth consecutive month of gains.”

— CNBC’s Samantha Subin and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report