Asia-Pacific markets rise ahead of central bank meetings this week; China data on tap

Asia-Pacific markets rose Monday ahead of economic data from China and a week of central bank meetings. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to maintain its benchmark interest rates. The Reserve Bank of Australia is also expected to keep its cash rate steady, while the Bank of Japan is expected to exit its negative interest rate policy. The Bank of England is expected to keep rates unchanged. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slipped, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix rose. South Korea’s Kospi was trading flat, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures pointed to a stronger open. China is set to release economic data. In the U.S., all three indexes fell on inflation concerns. Crude oil futures fell slightly, and consumer sentiment in March was little changed. Cryptocurrency experienced a large drop.