Asian shares mixed after tech-led rally on Wall Street

I understand that Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said that the negative economic impact from the weakening yen (128.380 as of this writing, reaching high of 129.40) at present outweighs the benefits, a most explicit warning against the softening of the currency. Next stop, 130?

Data for the fiscal year that ended in March showed exports jumped almost 24% but were outpaced by imports, which climbed 33%. The fiscal year deficit of 5.4 trillion yen (nearly $42 billion) was the highest in seven years.

Seen from another angle, These figures mark the eighth straight month of trade shortfall. Considering the first three month of the year, Japan posted a trade deficit of JPY 3,274.2 billion, compared to a surplus of JPY 464.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2021.

Awaiting news: Canada's YOY inflation rate is due out shortly. Consensus is for 6.1% following February's 5.7%, where six of the eight major components were markedly higher. MOM inflation is also to be reported, and is forcast to be about the same as last . . . 1.0%.

The U.K.'s retail sales figures MOM will be watched Thursday for more drops (last -.03%, forcast is for about the same).

And, of course, Thursday is Japan's inflation rate YOY. Forcast is 1.1%.

Update on Canada. Canada’s annual inflation rate quickened to 6.7% in March of 2022, the highest since January of 1991 and well above market expectations of 6.1%. Excluding gasoline, core inflation rose at a fresh record pace of 5.5%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.4%, surpassing forecasts of a 1% increase.

@Skeptical:

Suzuki expressed alarm, whereas Kuroda said a weak yen is overall a good thing.