ForexLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: China Service PMI for August beats

  • Forex news for Asian trading on Thursday, 3 August 2023

The focus of the data agenda today was China’s Caixin/S&P Global Services PMI for July, and it came in at a nice upside surprise. All this week the PMIs we’ve had from China for July have been a bit disappointing:

The Caixin Services PMI today though beat expectations easily and rose from June. At 54.1 the index remained above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction for the seventh month in a row.

Also on the data docket were retail sales for Q2 from Australia. These fell for the third quarter in a row and missed on the median estimate. Morgan Stanley downgraded Australia to underweight (and downgraded China and Taiwan also, to neutral).

News flow was very light with nothing of impact.

FX ranges were subdued with no notable moves.

Asian equity markets:

  • Japan’s Nikkei 225 -1.4%

  • China’s Shanghai Composite -0.2%

  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng -0.2%

  • South Korea’s KOSPI -0.7%

  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 -0.5%

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The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee decision is due today, the consensus is for a 25bp rate hike. there are previews above.

Due at 1100 GMT, which is 0700 US Eastern time. Bank of England Governor Bailey speaks half an hour later.

Bank of England Thursday, 3 August 2023 preview

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