Japan's consumer price inflation figures lead the regional economic calendar as investors shift their focus to Asian economic data and risk assets on Friday from the potential of a 'soft landing' in the U.S. economy.
According to the latest data from the Japan Statistics Bureau, November saw a 2.5 percent year-on-year rise in Japan's core consumer prices, down from October's 2.9 percent.
The core consumer price index (CPI), excluding volatile fresh food items, remained above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent target for the 20th consecutive month. The headline CPI in November grew by 2.8 percent, while the core-core index, excluding fresh foods and energy, recorded a 3.8 percent increase.
This figure is also the lowest since July 2022, representing one of the sharpest declines in years.
Lower electricity bills (down 18.1 percent) and reduced gas prices (down 11.6 percent) helped ease inflation. Energy prices fell by 10.1 percent. According to the ministry, without government fuel cost subsidies, the core CPI would have increased by approximately three percent.
The climb in household durable prices slowed to 2.6 percent from October's 3.2 percent. Nonperishable food prices increased by 6.7 percent, a slower pace compared to October's 7.6 percent.
Among gainers, accommodation or hotel fees rose sharply by 62.9 percent. It rebounded from a previous drop attributed to the government's discount program intended to support the pandemic-affected tourism sector.
"The chance of trend inflation accelerating towards our price target is gradually heightening," said BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda. "But we still need to scrutinize whether a positive wage-inflation cycle will fall in place."
After the release of Japan's inflation data, the USD/JPY pair initially dropped 0.05 percent, closing at 142.15. However, at the time of writing, it has slightly increased to 142.45.
Apart from Japan's CPI inflation data, the market is waiting for multiple reports for November from other countries, such as Malaysia's CPI inflation, Australia's credit and lending due, as well as the latest unemployment report from Taiwan.
Asian stocks review
While the MSCI World index is set for an eighth consecutive weekly increase, the performance of emerging market and Asian stocks has been comparatively weaker. Asian stocks traded narrowly on Friday after a strong rally linked to the dovish Federal Reserve started to ease while investors waited for crucial U.S. inflation data.
The MSCI Asia ex-Japan index is set for its third weekly loss in four weeks, though it appears to be a marginal decline that could reverse into a second consecutive weekly gain if the index rises 0.2 percent or more on Friday.
Following the recovery on Wall Street and in global stocks on Thursday, this outcome seems probable. The rebound was a combination of natural recovery from the unexpected downturn in the final trading hour the day before and positive figures indicating that U.S. inflation has retreated to align with the Fed's target.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.2 percent, recovering from a 1.6 percent decline in the previous session. Despite this fluctuation, the Nikkei managed a 0.7 percent increase for the week and stayed close to a 33-year high. The index faced pressure from declines in automobile stocks due to Toyota Motor Corp's (TYO:7203) suspension of production in a key unit following reports of extensive misconduct.
South Korea's KOSPI increased by 0.3 percent, nearing a four-month peak and heading for an eighth consecutive week of increases. Its substantial reliance on the technology sector positioned it for a 1.7 percent weekly gain.
Chinese stock indexes, largely trailing other Asian markets this week, hovered around yearly lows due to ongoing worries about China's economic rebound.
The blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index edged down 0.2 percent, hovering just above a nearly five-year low from Thursday. The Shanghai Composite also slipped 0.1 percent, trading close to a 14-month low. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.4 percent but was still set for a 0.5 percent weekly loss.