South Korea’s producer price data showed a clear pickup in pipeline inflation in March. PPI rose 1.6% month-on-month, up from 0.6% previously, while annual PPI accelerated to 4.1% from 2.5%. The combined move points to a much stronger pace of price pressure at the producer level, suggesting upstream inflation intensified materially at the end of the first quarter.
Importance: Medium
Possible Market Effect: Stronger producer inflation may support expectations that price pressures could stay firmer in coming months, which can be modestly supportive for Korean yields and the won if markets see pass-through risk into broader inflation.
Source: Bank of Korea
South Africa’s business confidence index rose to 134.6 in February from 133.2, but then slipped to 131.3 in March. The pattern suggests confidence improved briefly, but lost momentum again in the following month.
Importance: Low
Possible Market Effect: The March pullback may slightly temper optimism around South African business conditions, though the broader market effect is likely limited unless confidence weakens further.
Source: SACCI
Türkiye’s April industrial indicators sent a mixed signal. Capacity utilization rose to 73.8% from 73.3%, indicating slightly better use of existing industrial capacity. However, manufacturing confidence slipped to 100.6 from 101.0, suggesting sentiment in the sector weakened modestly even as operational activity improved.
Importance: Low
Possible Market Effect: The data are mixed for Turkish assets. Higher capacity use is mildly supportive for the growth outlook, but softer confidence suggests industrial momentum is not strengthening broadly.
Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye
Türkiye’s Central Government Debt Stock rose to 14,446.9B in March from 14,395.8B previously. The increase was relatively modest, but it shows that the public debt burden continued to rise at the end of the quarter.
Importance: Low
Possible Market Effect: The immediate market impact is likely limited, but a continued rise in government debt stock can remain relevant for Turkish rates, fiscal credibility, and lira sentiment over time.
Source: Ministry of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye
Importance: Medium
Türkiye’s year-end CPI forecast for April rose to 27.53%, up from 25.38% previously. The move shows inflation expectations have shifted higher again, signaling that confidence in a faster disinflation path remains limited.
Possible Market Effect:
This is mildly negative for the lira and mildly hawkish for domestic rate expectations, because rising inflation expectations can keep pressure on policy credibility and the broader inflation outlook.
Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), Market Participants Survey
Importance: Medium
Brazil’s IBC-Br economic activity index rose 0.60% in February, slightly above the 0.50% forecast but below the previous 0.80% increase. The reading suggests economic activity continued to expand, but at a slower pace than in the prior month.
Possible Market Effect:
This is a mildly constructive signal for the Brazilian real and the near-term growth outlook because activity remained positive and beat expectations, even with some moderation from the previous month. This is an inference from the IBC-Br release.
Source: Central Bank of Brazil (Banco Central do Brasil).
Importance: Low
Türkiye’s reserve data improved notably. Gross FX reserves rose to $64.07 billion from $58.42 billion, while net FX reserves increased to 55.59 from 45.66. The release points to a meaningful improvement in the reserve position after the previous week’s lower levels.
Possible Market Effect:
This is modestly supportive for the lira at the margin because stronger reserve levels can help ease immediate concern about external buffers and intervention capacity. This is an inference from the reserve improvement.
Source: Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT).
Importance: Low
Israel’s annualized GDP growth slowed to 3.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4, below the 4.2% forecast and far weaker than the prior 12.7% reading. The data point to a clear loss of momentum at the end of the quarter, suggesting the earlier growth burst was not sustained into the latest period.
Possible Market Effect:
This is mildly negative for the near-term growth outlook and can keep sentiment cautious toward the shekel and Israel-linked risk assets if follow-up activity data also soften. This is an inference from the weaker-than-expected GDP reading.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 2.6% to a new all-time high of 59,624.0, while the broader TOPIX rose 1.3%. The rally was led by technology and chip-related stocks, as continued optimism around artificial intelligence demand kept sentiment strong and extended the region’s risk-on move.
Possible Market Effect:
A record close in the Nikkei reinforces bullish sentiment toward Japanese technology and exporter names. If AI-driven demand remains firm and global risk appetite stays positive, Japanese equities may continue to attract momentum buying.
Source: Investing.com; AP.
Importance: Medium
Brazil’s retail sector sent a mixed signal in February. Retail sales rose 0.6% month-on-month, beating the 1.0% forecast only partially and improving from 0.4% previously, but annual retail sales growth slowed to 0.2% from 2.7% and came in below the 1.2% forecast. The result suggests that monthly activity stayed positive, but the broader year-on-year demand picture weakened sharply.
Possible Market Effect:
This is a mixed signal for Brazilian assets. The positive monthly reading helps short-term activity sentiment, but the sharp slowdown in annual growth can keep markets cautious on the strength of domestic consumption.
Source: IBGE, Monthly Survey of Trade (PMC).
Importance: Medium
Brazil’s IGP-10 inflation index rose 2.9% month-on-month in April, a sharp reversal from the previous -0.2% reading. The move points to a strong reacceleration in broad price pressure and marks a notable upside shift after last month’s decline. FGV IBRE’s release calendar shows the April 2026 IGP-10 publication was scheduled for April 15, 2026.
Possible Market Effect:
This is supportive for a firmer inflation outlook in Brazil and may keep markets cautious on the pace of any future policy easing.
Source: FGV IBRE.
Importance: Low
Israel’s budget balance showed a 2 billion shekel deficit in March, unchanged from the previous figure. The data suggest the fiscal position remained under pressure, but did not deteriorate further on this reading.
Possible Market Effect:
The immediate market effect is likely limited. Still, a continued budget deficit keeps attention on fiscal pressures, especially if public spending remains elevated.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Israel.