Japan (NKY:IND) +0.92%. Investors now ahead to Japanese inflation figures for December due later this week to guide the monetary policy outlook. In the following days, Chinese officials are set to release crucial data, including the Q4 GDP growth rate as well as figures on industrial output and retail trade. Meanwhile, markets monitored geopolitical developments in the region after Lai Ching-te, considered a strong China skeptic, helped secure a third-straight victory for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan’s presidential election over the weekend. Australian private survey of inflation soared by 1% m/m in December, the most in 17 months. The Melbourne Institute’s Monthly Inflation Gauge showed prices in Australia sharply accelerated to 1.0% in December 2023 from a 0.3%…
