Data, trade war news to continue driving markets

ECONOMIC data will be the focus for Asian investors this week, with highlights including China's gross domestic product (GDP) figures and December consumer price index (CPI) numbers from Hong Kong and Singapore.

China's GDP print for Q4 2018 on Monday is expected to confirm indications from recent trade data that its economy is slowing. IG market strategist Pan Jingyi said the data will likely meet the current consensus for a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase, slowing slightly from 6.5 per cent in Q3.

That is, unless the industrial production and retail sales data - also due on Monday - disappoint, which would add to downside risks, she said.