A cafe at the Royal Arcade, Bourke Street Mall, in Melbourne, Australia.
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Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell on Monday as investors awaited inflation data from Australia and Japan later this week.
Australia’s May consumer price index reading, due on Wednesday, will be in focus after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michelle Bullock revealed the central bank discussed hiking rates at its last meeting.
Should inflation come in higher than expected and spur the RBA to raise rates, it would be the first major Asia-Pacific central bank to do so in an environment where investors are waiting for rate cuts, barring Japan.
The RBA has two inflation readings to consider — June 26 and July 31— before its next meeting on Aug. 6.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.8%, closing at 7,733.7.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.54% at 38,804.65, while the Topix was 0.57% higher and finished at 2,740.19.
On Monday, the Bank of Japan revealed it discussed raising interest ratesduring …