Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Singapore plays host to a three-day defense summit while Japan this week marks 30 years since its deadly subway gas attack.
China publishes key economic data, Philippine conglomerate San Miguel reports its latest earnings with monetary policy meetings in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia.
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MONDAY
China economy checkup
China releases macroeconomic statistics including retail sales for the first two months of the year. Fresh off the legislative Two Sessions in Beijing this month, the data will provide indicators of how the world’s No. 2 economy is faring as it becomes embroiled in a trade war with Washington. Chinese policymakers have acknowledged a need to shore up domestic consumption.
AI conference
Nvidia GTC kicks off in San Jose, California with thousands of developers, innovators and business leaders expected to attend the chipmaker’s flagship event on all things artificial intelligence. CEO Jensen Huang will headline the conference with a keynote speech on Tuesday morning.
Vietnam-U.S. relations
The US-ASEAN Business Council holds a media briefing with representatives from U.S. companies, diplomats and government officials as part of an American business delegation visiting the Southeast Asian nation to mark 30 years of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations.
San Miguel reports
San Miguel, one of the Philippines best-known companies, publishes its financial performance for 2024. The beer-to-infrastructure conglomerate saw its net income rise 19% in the first nine months of last year. Among its projects is a contract to rehabilitate the Philippines’ aging international airport, supporting its position as a growth driver for the economy.
TUESDAY
Defense Technology Summit
Singapore hosts the three-day Defence Technology Summit that will gather representatives of government, industry, academia and think tanks to exchange views on defense and security developments. High-level delegates from U.S. companies including Oracle, Boeing and Palantir Technologies are set to attend.
Earnings: Xiaomi, Xpeng
WEDNESDAY
Japan policy meeting
The Bank of Japan is expected to pause its campaign to normalize monetary policy following a rate increase to 0.5% in January. Despite mounting uncertainty over the global economy and an equity market selloff, the BOJ is expected to underline its commitment to policy normalization amid signs of resurgent inflation and rising nominal wages. Indonesia’s central bank also holds its latest policy meeting on Wednesday.
Earnings: Tencent
THURSDAY
Tokyo subway gas attack
Thursday marks 30 years since members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway, killing over a dozen people and injured many more. The act of domestic terrorism had a major impact on public safety with previous memorials sometimes attracting the country’s prime minister. Japan’s Public Security Intelligence Agency has sought to keep the incident from being forgotten by launching a website of digital archives linked to the 1995 attack.
IOC presidential election
The International Olympic Committee elects a new president to succeed Thomas Bach. Seven candidates vying for the IOC’s top job include Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe is also in the running.
Monetary policy: Taiwan
Earnings: Geely, PDD Holdings
FRIDAY
Earnings: Meituan
