Financial News: Australia Unemployment Data Due On Thursday

Australia Unemployment Data Due On Thursday

02/18/2026 - 17:33:00 (RTTNews)

(RTTNews) - Australia will on Thursday release January jobless figures, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The unemployment rate is expected to come in at 4.2 percent, up from 4.1 percent in December, while the Australian economy is expected to add 20,100 jobs following the increase of 65,200 jobs a month earlier.

Japan will provide December data for core machinery order, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 5.1 percent on month and 3.9 percent on year. That follows the 11.0 percent monthly contraction and the 6.4 percent yearly decline in November.

South Korea will provide January numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In December, imports were up 11.7 percent on year and exports jumped an annual 33.9 percent for a trade surplus of $8.74 billion.

Malaysia will release January numbers for consumer prices; in December, overall inflation was up 0.3 percent on month and 1.6 percent on year.

The central bank in Indonesia will wrap up its monetary policy meeting and announce its decision on interest rates; the benchmark lending rate (4.75 percent), deposit facility rate (3.75 percent) and the lending facility rate (5.50 percent) are all expected to be unchanged.

Finally, the markets in Taiwan, China and Hong Kong remain closed for the Lunar New Year.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Market News provided by RTTNews

RECENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL NEWS

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Dips In March Due To Middle East Conflict (20 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Reflecting the conflict in the Middle East and the subsequent jump in gas prices, the ...Full Story»

U.S. Job Openings Increase More Than Expected In January (17 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Labor Department released a report on Friday showing job openings in the U.S. incr ...Full Story»

U.S. Economy Grows Much Less Than Previously Estimated In Q4 (14 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - U.S. economic growth slowed by much more than previously estimated in the fourth quart ...Full Story»

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Flat In January (12 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing new orders for U.S. manufa ...Full Story»

U.S. PCE Price Index Rises In Line With Estimates In January, Annual Growth Unexpectedly Slows (09 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Consumer prices in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of ...Full Story»

UK Economy Flatlines In January (41 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The UK economy logged no growth in January, even before the onset of the conflict in t ...Full Story»

U.S. GDP Increases Much Less Than Previously Estimated In Q4 (35 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - U.S. economic growth slowed by much more than previously estimated in the fourth quart ...Full Story»

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Unchanged In January (31 min(s), 32 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The Commerce Department released a report on Friday showing new orders for U.S. manufa ...Full Story»