Asia markets set for mixed open ahead of private surveys on factory activity

Asia markets set for mixed open ahead of private surveys on factory activity

A worker grinds at a workshop of an equipment manufacturing company in Qingzhou Economic Development Zone, East China’s Shandong province, March 31, 2023.

CFOTO | Future Publishing | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open ahead of a slew of manufacturing activity reports being released around the region.

Most notably, China’s Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers index will be released today. Economists polled by Reuters expect to see a slight expansion despite official government reading recording a third straight month of contraction.

Private surveys for factory activity in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India will be released today as well as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 is set to open higher, with the futures contract in Chicago at 33,485, and its counterpart in Osaka at 33,420 against its last close at 33,189.04.

In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 were at 7,190, also higher than the index’s last close of 7,203.3 as investors closely watch for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rate decision on Tuesday.

Economists polled by Reuters expect the central bank to hike its cash rate by another 25 basis points to 4.35%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is set for a slight rebound, with futures at 18,932, compared to the HSI’s close of 18,916.43.

On Friday in the U.S., all three major indexes made gains, led by technology stocks. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.45%, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.23% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.84%,

— CNBC’s Samantha Subin and Fred Imbert contributed to this report

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