Asia-Pacific markets set to open mixed; Reserve Bank of Australia decision ahead

SINGAPORE — Futures in the Asia-Pacific pointed to a mixed open as investors look ahead to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rate decision.

The Nikkei futures contract in Chicago was at 26,445 while its counterpart in Osaka was at 26,230. That compared against the Nikkei 225’s last close at 26,153.81.

SPI futures in Australia were at 6,538, lower than the S&P/ASX 200‘s last close at 6,612.6.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise interest rates by 50 basis points later today, a Reuters poll predicted. And retail sales data is also expected today.

Elsewhere in the region, South Korean data released Tuesday showed the consumer price index in June rose 6% compared with the same period a year ago. That is slightly higher than the expected 5.9% increase and the fastest annual rise since November 1998, according to Reuters.

Japan and China are set to release services Purchasing Managers’ Index readings on Tuesday.

In company news, a group of lawmakers in the U.K. are reportedly calling for a ban on Chinese CCTV makers Hikvision and Dahua over alleged links to human rights abuses.

U.S. markets were closed overnight for a holiday.

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 105.138.

The Japanese yen traded at 135.87 per dollar, after briefly weakening past 137 against the greenback last week. The Australian dollar was at $0.6873, following a recovery from below $0.679.