NEWS

CANBERA (Alliance News) - Japan will on Monday release October numbers for core machine orders, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Machine orders are expected to rise 1.1% on month and fall 4.9% on year after shedding 3.3% on month and rising 4.3% on year in September. Japan also will see November figures for producer prices and machine tool orders, plus October results for the tertiary industry index. Producer prices are expected to increase 0.3% on month and decline of 2.3% on year following the 0.1% monthly decline and the 2.7% yearly fall in October. Tool orders fell 8.9% on year in October, while the tertiary industry index is expected to add 0.3% on month after slipping 0.1% in September. Australia will see October figures for credit card purchases and balances; in September, they were at AUD25.3 billion and AUD51.4 billion, respectively. Finally, the markets in Malaysia and Indonesia are closed on Monday in observance of the birth of the prophet Muhammad. Thailand's markets also are shuttered for Constitution Day. All three will resume trade on Tuesday.