Thailand's February customs-cleared exports rose 9.9% from a year earlier, driven by electronics and electrical equipment, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday, slower than January and well below analyst expectations.
Most emerging Asian equities rose back to early session highs as investors traded cautiously while weighing the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict after Iran denied talks with the US to end the war.
Singapore will likely tighten monetary policy next month and consider further moves later in the year as the Middle East crisis drives up prices in the trade-reliant city state, according to economists.
Malaysia's export value in February rose 10.8% year-on-year to RM130.95bil, official data from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) showed today.
The Bank of Japan left interest rates unchanged as widely expected on Thursday, and flagged caution over the inflationary effects of rising energy prices due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Asian stocks fell on Thursday, with Japan’s benchmark leading losses after the Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged and flagged rising uncertainty over inflation as surging oil prices and escalating Middle East conflict clouded the outlook.