Australia signs expanded trade agreement with ASEAN

Australia signs expanded trade agreement with ASEAN. The following report summarises what is currently known and what remains unverified.

Market participants read the news as broadly consistent with the soft-landing scenario, though positioning data suggests conviction remains thin. Desk economists at Regional Monitor note the release aligns with leading indicators published earlier this quarter.

The next data points to watch are the monthly trade and inflation series, which will show whether the trend survives contact with the second half of the year.